Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Dec 28: The district police, who were in the dark about the identity of a man reportedly having citizenship of Saudi Arabia, who had been arrested over two years back when loitering in the town, have got access to some documents which might help them to prove his identity. The man, who did not possess any travel documents or visa, and spoke incoherently, could not be of much help to police in this regard. He had undergone jail term of two years and was released recently from jail, after which complications arose over taking care of him.

It is gathered that Shaffi Kalluvalappil from Nayammaramoole in the district, who conducted checks in Saudi Arabia, got some proof about the whereabouts and family connections of the arrested man, Abdul Basheer. It is learnt that he has provided these documents to the district police here.

Police confirmed that they have received an old photograph of Abdul Basheer as well as the identity card issued by the Saudi police department to Basheer. They said they would contact the Saudi Arabian embassy and that the documents would be handed over to the district collector for further action.

District collector, S Muhammed Sagir, said that a decision would be taken only after proper verification of the documents at hand. The district administration has already written to the union home ministry, seeking to provide the status of migrant to Abdul Basheer. Basheer has been presently put up at 'Snehalaya' home for the destitute at Pavoor, Manjeshwar.

Abdul Basheer had been released from the jail on December 2 this year after undergoing two years imprisonment for intruding into India without any visa. Although the police had contacted the telephone number provided by him, they did not get proper information as they could not communicate properly on account of language barrier. Therefore, the police got in touch with Shaffi from Nayammaramoole, who knows Arabic, and through him, gathered information about Abdul Basheer.

Shaffi got in touch with Basheer's family, and provided his photograph to his brother. His brother reportedly told Saffi that the actual name of his brother now at Manjeshwar is Noor Basheer, and not Abdul Basheer. This brother also said that his name is Abu Basheer. Shaffi then got documents from local police and provided them to the policemen here.

It is gathered that Basheer's family was in Pakistan in the past. Later, the family had migrated to Saudi Arabia. Although the other three members of the family got Saudi citizenship, Basheer had failed to get it. Because of the problem of citizenship, Basheer was arrested and jailed at Saudi Arabia. He was deported to Bangladesh, as Saudi authorities thought he was from there.

Abu Basheer told Shaffi that his father had died six years back, and his mother is unwell.

Police said that they are putting in all out effort to send Basheer to his family on the basis of some documents. So far, no one including government agencies has come forward to provide shelter and care to Basheer, who does not have any documents in his name. At present, he depends entirely on the mercy of 'Snehalaya'.