Youths trapped in Riyadh to return soon: Mandi MP

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 15

Mandi MP Ramswaroop Sharma said that the 10 youths of Mandi district, trapped at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia for the last couple of months, would return to India soon. The Indian Foreign Ministry has contacted the youths. Their documentation work is in process for their early return.

The senior leader said that the Indian Government was in touch with the Government of Saudi Arabia for the safe release of these youths, who were cheated by local travel agents.

The families of these victims have been urging the state and the Central governments for the past one month to bring them back safely.

The local travel agents had charged Rs 90,000 each for tourist visa to Saudi Arabia promising lucrative jobs to the youths there. When these youths reached at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, they were forced to work for long hours on low wages by their employer. Their tourist visa was valid only for three months. After expiry, their employers refused to extend their work visa. This put them into great trouble. They finally surrendered before police and found themselves imprisoned in Riyadh jail soon.

According to family sources, these youths are in critical condition and waiting for their return as soon as possible so that their torment ended. The family members are also demanding that the travel agents be booked under the human trafficking Act.