Dammam: Daijiworld.com Report Helps Release of Jailed Lohitaksha
by P A Hameed Padubidri, Saudi Arabia
Daijiworld Media Network – Dammam (SB)
Editor's Note: It is heartening to see the responses that poured in from around the world, especially around Gulf for the release of Lohitaksha who was jailed in Saudi Arabia for no fault of his.
The report presented by Daijiworld's Saudi Arabian correspondent P A Hameed dated May 16, 2010 (Distressed Family Pleads to Set Free Lohitaksha from Dammam Jail) has touched the hearts of several individuals without the boundaries of caste, relegion and language. Mangaloreans’ Saudi Arabian Association (MASA) in Saudi Arabia and Shodhan Prasad, who is also a Daijiworld correspondent and leader of 'Nama Tuluver' have worked extensively behind this issue and successful in mobilizing required fund through the support of several other organizations and individuals around the Gulf.
We salute each and every one who worked behind the mission and specially those who contributed financially. It reaffirms the truth that when a fellow human being is in trouble no caste/religion/region will be a barrier and that all are one.
Dammam: Daijiworld.com Report Helps Release of Jailed Lohitaksha
Dammam, Jun 8: The news report about the detention of Lohitaksha, a Mangalorean, in a Saudi Arabian jail, posted in Daijiworld had a great impact among the people, especially Mangaloreans around the world. The impact of the report brought in response from a number of Mangaloreans and their respective organizations in Saudi Arabia and UAE. They worked in their different capacities in varied ways to get Lohitaksha released from the jail quickly. As a result of these efforts, he was released from the jail on Sunday June 6 after his incarceration for more than 8 months.
Lohitaksha, who originally hails from Derebail-Konchady in Mangalore, had been working as a crane operator in a company at Dammam in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 15 years. In September 2009, an accident took place while he was on duty that was said to have caused a heavy damage to the crane owned by his sponsor. The police took him under their custody putting him behind bars and charged him with a case of damage to the moveable property. In January 2010, the case was decided in Dammam court and he was ordered to pay his sponsor/employer damages of Saudi Riyals 80,000 (around Rs Rs 10 lac). He had been in Tuqbah jail since more than eight months as he was unable to pay the debt.
Consequently, a lot of individuals and organizations in Saudi Arabia and UAE came forward with their helping hands and contributed around Rs 1 lac Saudi Riyals as donations for the cause of releasing Lohitaksha from the jail. MASA-Dammam, a socio-humanitarian voluntary organization working broadly for the welfare of the people back in hometown as well as in Saudi Arabia, took a lead to solve the case. MASA collected a huge amount as its pesident Madhav Amin, general secretary Santosh Shetty, vice-president Ravi Karkera, Dr Madhukar Devadiga, Dayanand Shriyan and Babu Kotebettu among others actively endeavoured to set Lohitaksha free. They saw to it that all the legal formalities and court procedures are undertaken completely owing to which Lohitaksha was released on Sunday. The members of MASA also visited him at the jail two weeks ago.
MASA heartily greeted Lohitaksha soon after he was released from the prison. They also held an emergency meeting on Sunday to welcome his release and also to bid farewell to him. Lohitaksha will fly to Mangalore from Dammam within two days. “I have no words to express my happiness and thanks to those who helped my release”, said a delighted Lohitaksha.
Vasanth Kumar Hegde, product development manager from Al-Rajhi Bank-Riyadh, was among the first person to respond to the report in Daijiworld and took a lead role in Riyadh in this regard. He was one of pivotal persons to push for the donation move, apart from his individual contribution, to the philanthropic cause amongst various people and other organizations in the Kingdom as well as in UAE.
MASA's Thanksgiving Meet
Vasanth Hegde among others brought the issue to the Saudi National Society for Human Rights. Besides, Vijay Rai, president of Karavali Association-Riyadh, Mohandas Shetty, Bunts Association-Riyadh, Arshad-Zuhair Fayaz Con.-Bhatkal Association, Sadashiva and his group, Jubail, Royston Prabhu, Riyadh and Davis Anthony, Dammam among others have contributed for the purpose. B K Shetty, president of KNRI Forum-Jeddah, has made his good efforts and also contributed on behalf of the forum.
Shodhan Prasad, branch manager from UAE Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co and Nama Tuluveru UAE, took an active role in this regard. He launched an extensive drive to collect the donation from the various organizations and individuals in the UAE for the purpose of the release. Afros Assadi, from the Northern Insurance, UAE and Devadiga Sangha-Dubai also reached out to help for this cause.
Rajani, daughter of Lohitaksha, who has been working consistently for the release of her father through petitions/e-mails to various sources including Indian Embassy in Riyadh, but to no use, has expressed her utmost delight at her father’s quick release and thanked all those who worked directly and indirectly for her father’s release.
In her letter sent to P A Hameed, she said-“This day is a memorable day for me and my family as it was time to enjoy the safe release of my father from the prison in Saudi Arabia. I spoke for few minutes with my father after his release over phone and he was elated. This was all possible because of the collective efforts of all our people in the Kingdom and UAE. Me and my family will be always indebted to all who worked hard in all respects for the cause…”