"It was hell" - Nelyadi man narrates his three-year ordeal in Saudi jail

[email protected] (CD Network)
August 11, 2011

sulaiman

Mangalore, August 11: Sulaiman, a resident of Nelyadi near Uppinangady has finally reached his home after spending three years in a Saudi Arabia jail after being convicted in an accident case.

The 53-year-old man arrived at the Bajpe airport on Wednesday afternoon from Mumbai and was received by his family members and wellwishers. His two children were also present.

Speaking after the arrival, Sulaiman he expressed happiness that he has finally managed to set foot on the home soil. “I was desperate to get back home after undergoing a nightmarish life over the last three years and four months. I am a happy man now,” he said.

“It was a very difficult life at the jail. It was hell. More than the harassment from the police and the staff of the jail I had to face torture from the inmates. I did not get proper medical attention when I was not well,” he said.

“I had to wait for three months to get my passport. Even though I was released in April I could only get my passport and other documents this month. I could not adjust to the food served at the jail. I had gone to Gulf with dreams of ensuring a better life for my family. But I could hardly spend a penny during the last four years,” he lamented.

About his future plans, Sulaiman said that he would spend about three months with family members and once again try for a job abroad. “Finding a job in the homeland is also an option,” he added.

He expressed displeasure that his ordeal was allowed to continue despite the issue being brought to the notice of the Indian foreign minister S.M. Krishna and the concerned ministers in the Saudi government. I owe my freedom to the workers of India Fraternity Forum,” he said.

There was a joyous atmosphere at the Nelyadi home of the released man. Jameela, his wife, was looking forward to the reunion with bated breath.

“I am extremely happy that my husband is returning home after undergoing a nightmarish experience. Sulaiman is the sole breadwinner of the family consisting of myself and our five children. I have got my piece of mind back,” she exclaimed.

Background

Sulaiman had gone to Gulf in 2008 January after having spent 25 years in India as a driver. He joined a company in Saudi Arabia as a truck driver. On June 26, 2008, he had parked his truck by the side of road near Taif to attend to nature's call. To his utter misfortune, a car carrying six Saudi nationals rammed into his stationary truck leaving all the six dead. He had fainted on seeing the horror, but when he came to his senses, he had been lodged in Al-Kuruma jail.

The whereabouts of Sulaiman was not known for six months. Sulaiman had lost all hopes of a release. In the meantime, he had been transferred to Taif jail. The court had ruled that he should pay six lakh Saudi Riyal as compensation to the kin of the dead. The amount works out to Rs. 75 lakh. But he could hardly afford to pay such a hefty compensation. As he could not pay up, he had to languish in jail for more than three months.

When the plight of Sulaiman was publicized in the media, workers of India Fraternity Forum swung into action and ensured that the inmate was released.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 28: Karnataka government on Saturday launched a food helpline number --155214-- for the labourers who have been affected due to lockdown imposed by the central government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday announced a 21-day lockdown in the entire country effective from midnight to deal with the spread of the coronavirus, saying that " social distancing" is the only option to deal with the disease, which spreads rapidly.
Similarly, other states including Delhi have started both official and non-official helpline numbers for necessary assistance.
Both the government institutions and social organizations are contributing together in the fight against coronavirus during the lockdown.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), there are 918 confirmed cases of coronavirus cases in the country and 19 fatalities have been reported.

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coastaldigest.com web desk
June 21,2020

Bengaluru, June 21: An assistant sub-inspector of police who was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 infection in city-based Victoria hospital passed away on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday as he did not respond to the treatment for coronavirus.

The 59-year-old ASI was attached to the Wilson Garden traffic police station in Bengaluru. He tested positive for coronavirus on June 18 and was rushed to the COVID ward in Victoria hospital on June 19. He had fever for the last four days. His wife and two children have been quarantined. According to the police, the station has not yet been sealed down and no policemen have been quarantined.

The Wilson Garden ASI is the third Bengaluru police personnel to die of COVID-19 in the last one week. Earlier, an ASI from the VV Puram traffic police station had died undergoing treatment. On Saturday morning, a head constable from the Kalasipalya police station who was admitted at Victoria hospital passed away. The series of deaths in the police department has created fear among other policemen across the city.

One the other hand, dozens of policemen were tested positive in different parts of Karnataka today including 21 from two police stations of Bengaluru. 

Around 15 policemen from the Kalasipalya police station and five policemen from the Ashok Nagar traffic police station tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday.

In Kalasipalya, three ASIs, head constables and police constables have tested positive. In Ashok Nagar traffic police station, a probationary sub-inspector, an ASI, two police constables and a lady constable tested positive for the virus.

One more police constable working in Bandepalya police station also tested positive. Seven policemen who were in his primary contacts have been quarantined. BBMP officials have begun the process of fumigating the station premises and its surroundings.

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News Network
February 12,2020

Kathmandu, Feb 12: Nepal has suspended the licence of a mountainous resort for three months due to poor security management and managerial weakness at the hotel where eight Indian tourists, including four minors, died of possible asphyxiation, according to media reports.

Kathmandu: Nepal has suspended the licence of a mountainous resort for three months due to poor security management and managerial weakness at the hotel where eight Indian tourists, including four minors, died of possible asphyxiation, according to media reports.

Tragedy struck a group of 15 tourists from Kerala when eight of them died on January 21 due to possible asphyxiation after they fell unconscious probably due to a gas leak from a heater in their room at a mountainous resort in Makwanpur district.

The tourists were airlifted to HAMS hospital here where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Makwanpur police said the victims might have fallen unconscious due to asphyxiation.

The Department of Tourism on Sunday imposed a ban on the operation of Daman-based Everest Panorama Resort for three months based on the report submitted by a probe committee formed to investigate the death of the Indian tourists from Kerala, the Kathmandu Post reported on Tuesday.

The department decided to shut down the resort as the report submitted by a probe committee pointed out poor security management and managerial weakness at the resort for the incident, it said.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had formed the probe committee under Surendra Thapa, the director of the Department of Tourism. After a field inspection, the committee had submitted its report a few days ago, pointing to the shortcomings of the resort.

During the investigation, the committee found the resort had not been following the recommended safety measures and was providing substandard services to its guests, The Himalayan Times reported.

Moreover, the committee discovered that the resort had not fulfilled the criteria set by DoT to be categorised a 'resort', it said.

Mira Acharya, director of DoT was quoted as saying by the report that the resort's operations have been halted as per Section 15 of Tourism Act-1979.

"If the resort owner wishes to resume services after three months of suspension, the resort should be upgraded as per the Hotel, Lodge, Restaurant, Bar and Tourist Guide Rules-1981 and also meet the criteria mentioned in a notice published in the Nepal Gazette under the title 'Hotel Classification and Criteria'," Acharya said.

She added that the resort would also have to undergo the Environment Impact Assessment to get the permission from DoT to resume operation.

Meanwhile, the resort management has said that they will work towards meeting the standards fixed by the department and run the resort efficiently.

"We will work towards meeting the standards fixed by the department and run the resort efficiently. We are saddened by the tragic incident. We will ensure that such incidents don't occur in the future,” said Sudesh Gautam, the operator of the resort was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

The group, after travelling to Pokhara -- a popular mountainous tourist destination -- was on their way back home and stayed at Everest Panorama Resort in Daman.

Those who were killed were Praveen Krishnan Nair, his wife Saranya Sasi and their three children and Ranjith Kumar Adatholath Punathil, his wife Indu Lakshmi Peethambaran Ragalatha and their son.

Everest Panorama Resort was established 28 years ago in Daman Simbhajyang area, a tourist destination in Bagmati Province. The tourist numbers, according to Thaha Hotel Association, have plunged after the tragic accident of January 27.

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