Tortured in Saudi desert, Ullal youth pleads for his rescue from the clutches of sponsor

[email protected] (CD Network)
June 23, 2012

Mangalore, Jun 23: A woman has sought Mangalore city police's help to rescue her young son from the clutches of an unknown sponsor in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

23-year-old Ashraf, son of Asiyamma and Late Abdul Gafoor from Kotepur, Ullal, had left for the oil rich nation on April 27 after obtaining a visa sent by a third party to Nisa Travel Agency in Kannur, Kerala.

desertHowever, a few days later Ashraf called Asiyamma to inform her that the visa agent had deceived him. Though he had been promised the job of 'office boy', he was forced to work day and night in an isolated desert.

After this call there was no communication from Ashraf for nearly two months. However, recently Asiyamma's brother received an unknown ISD missed call. When he called back, he heard the voice of Ashraf, who explained about the physical and mental torture that he has been undergoing in the desert. He informed that his health condition has also deteriorated due to torture and lack of food. He also requested to rescue him from the clutches of the cruel sponsor.

Asiyamma, who submitted a memorandum to city police chief Seemant Kumar Singh on Friday, demanding the police intervention to rescue Ashraf, said that she had spent over Rs 60,000 to send her bread winning son abroad.

She said that one Farooq from Manjeshwar had initially approached her son to inform about the requirement of an 'office boy' in KSA.

When contacted, Farooq said that his neighbor Abdullah, who is working in KSA, had asked him to inform if there was any aspirant for 'office boy' visa.

“Accordingly, I contacted one of my relatives, who in turn suggested Ashraf's name. As Ashraf agreed to move abroad, Abdullah called me to inform that the visa had already been sent to 'Nisa Travel Agency.  I asked Ashraf to collect it after confirming its authenticity, as I had not even seen it”, Farooq said.

Asiyamma said that when her brothers recently contacted Abdullah directly and told him about Ashraf's hardships, he demanded a sum of Saudi Riyal 10,000, i.e. Rs 1.5 lakh to rescue him.

She said that Abdullah himself is mainly responsible for her son's condition as it was he who received him at an Airport in KSA and handed him over to an unknown sponsor.

She urged Mr Singh to inquire into this 'cheating' case and help her son to get freedom from the unknown sponsor.

Farooq said that he was shocked when he came to know the fact. “Later, I also contacted Abdullah over phone to ask whether he had cheated an innocent youth after promising him 'office boy' job? However, I did not get proper reply from him. He just told me that the visa was sent by some of his relatives and not by him”, he said. “I even did not know who the agent of that visa was”, Farooq added.

Having completed only his primary education, Ashraf was working at a mill in Ullal before flying abroad.

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News Network
March 15,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 15: The civic body in Bengaluru has said that gathering at marriage functions should not exceed 100 people in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.

A circular issued by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) dated March 15 said, "All marriage functions pre booked in marriage halls, hotels, Party places, etc. prior to the issue of circular dated March 13, shall be allowed to be conducted subject to the condition that the gathering in the function not exceeding 100 persons."

"The above relaxation is an exception in consideration of the difficulties in rescheduling and cancelling the Marriage event immediately," the circular said.

It said, "The Owners/Management of such locations where Marriages are to be solemnized due to pre booking shall maintain high standards of sanitation and hygiene by periodically cleaning by 10 per cent Sodium Hydrochlorite Solution or any other effective disinfectant the surfaces, floors and exposed areas likely to be touched by the attendants."

"Any person attending the function having any such symptoms like Cough, Cold, and Fever etc. shall be requested for immediately leaving the Programmes," it said.

The civic body further said in the circular, "No fresh bookings of any place for Marriage programme are permitted till further orders. Any bookings on future dates by any organizer, event manager, owner of such property or any other person will be at his own risk and action will be taken against the property or any other person for any kind of bookings before an Order allowing such bookings is issued by a Competent Authority."

"The restrictions imposed are in the absolute interest of Public Health for preventing the Community Spread and outbreak of the disease at mass scale. All other restrictions imposed by order dated March 13 shall stand the same," the Circular added.

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News Network
April 4,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 4: With the district administration formally confirming three new cases of covid-19, the total number of coronavirus positive cases in Dakshina Kannada today mounted to 12. 

A 43-year-old man from Thumbey in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada had been to Delhi on March 11 due to personal work and returned on March 22. His throat swabs were sent for testing on April 2 though he was healthy. Today the report of the test claimed that he was infected with covid-19. However, he is still said to be healthy.

In another case, a man from Udupi, who had returned from Dubai on March 21, was under medical observation after he landed at Mangaluru International Airport. The district administration today claimed that he too is suffering from the covid-19. 

A resident of Thokkottu, on February 6, had travelled to Mumbai and then visited Delhi. On March 6 he had returned to Mangaluru. On April 2, his throat swabs were sent for testing and the report today showed positive.

All three have been admitted to Wenlock Hospital for treatment.

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News Network
January 12,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 12: Janata Dal (Secular) chief and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Sunday refuted reports of him contesting in the Rajya Sabha elections and added that he is more concerned about strengthening his party in Karnataka.

"I am not interested in going to Rajya Sabha. My concern is to build and strengthen the party in the region to the best of my ability. I had declared earlier that I will not contest elections anymore," Deve Gowda told ANI here.

"My party MP D Kupendra Reddy is there in the Rajya Sabha as of now and further decisions will be taken by the party. In March 2019, towards the end of the 16th Lok Sabha I had declared that I will not contest any more elections," Deve Gowda added.

Four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka are about to fall vacant in June this year as two of Congress, one of BJP and JD(S) MPs retire.

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