Bengaluru, Sept 7: As many as 13 youths from Karnataka have been reportedly stranded in Kuwait after their travel visas expired. Among them 12 are from Bidar district and one from Vijayapura district.
The youths - promised jobs as building construction workers - are now left without employment and are unable to return home because of this.
The matter came to light after Gautham Chandrappa of Mangalagi village called up a reporter and informed him about their plight. The agents had taken Rs 55,000 from each of the youths apart from flight charges, promising them well-paying jobs.
The youths have not called home to inform them about the matter, fearing that their family members will panic. They are housed in a private building in the Gulf country for the past 10 days. They are making do with whatever little money, brought from home, is left with them.
They were taken to Kuwait through Mumbai from Bidar in batches on July 27 and 31 by Anand, Jagmohan, Goutham and Rajendra, agents based in Basavakalyan in the district. They send workers on contract basis through another agent in Mumbai. They came to know that they had been cheated without being provided jobs on August 27. The youths have not studied beyond class 7, 8, 10 and 12. They have been threatened not to inform anyone about their predicament.
None of them can speak English, which has only compounded their woes. They are also at sea on whom to contact for hep. The youths have appealed to the authorities concerned to help them come out of the crisis.
District Superintendent of Police D Devaraj said police will take action if any of the victims mails them or their family members inform them. Bidar MP Bhagwant Khuba said he will take steps to help the youths through diplomatic channels, if they or their kin contact him with details.
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