Visa agent tells police he'll arrange for return of Mirza

Almost a week after MiD DAY published a report ('Enslaved and starved in Saudi, man on verge of suicide', Sept 6) about 38-year-old Mirza Dilawarbeg, who has been working and living in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia for the last three months in abysmal condition, visa agent Abdul who had sent Mirza to Riyadh was traced and summoned to Kondhwa police station on Sunday.

Mirza had claimed that he was subjected to inhuman treatment and had appealed the Indian government to rescue him or else he would end his life soon. "We summoned him (Abdul) on Sunday and asked him to bring Mirza back to India. He has promised us that within two days he will contact his partner in Riyadh and ask him to send Mirza back," Police Inspector (Crime) Sudam Pachorkar.u00a0

He said officials were now trying find out how many people had Abdul sent to Gulf countries, promising them good jobs, and what is their living condition at present.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Rajendra Mane confirmed that Kondhwa police station officials have been instructed to do the needful in this case Officials traced Abdul after 57-year-old Nasreen registered a complaint against him.

Like Mirza, she too was sent to Riyadh in January by Abdul. Nasreen claimed that she was made to work in inhuman conditions, but managed to come back to India on September 6 with the help of a city NGO.

The MiD DAY September 6 report

"We are investigating into Nasreen's complaint from various angles. We will also record Abdul's version of the story," Pachorkar said. Pachorkar said Abdul was ready to compensate for Nasreen's unpaid salary and promised police officials that he would not trouble her or any of her family members infuture.

Another complaint
Maqbool Garware, who accused Abdul of duping him of Rs 60,000, approached the Kondhwa police station officials after reading the MiD DAY report and lodged a compliant against him.

"I was lured by Abdul. He said I would be getting a good job in Riyadh and asked me to pay him Rs 60,000. He took money and my passport, but didn't send me to Riyadh. I had been trying to contact him so that I could get my money back, but he remained unreachable," Garware said.

Mirza yesterday said he just wanted to return now. "I'm all set to get back to India as I am fed up of working here," Mirza said.u00a0