Two Indian travel agents deceived 14 Indian workers by allegedly sending them to work in Saudi Arabia only on tourist visas instead of work visas.
Out of these fourteen Indians, twelve are now lodged in jails in Saudi Arabia as their visas has expired and they don’t have work visas.The remaining two Indians are still working in a company, Police said.
Twelve out of fourteen workers are from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district while two are from Punjab. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur has also raised this concern with External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj to rescue and bring all of them back to the home country.
As per sources, the Union minister has been requested by CM Thakur to personally take up the matter with Saudi Arabia authorities for their release. The chief minister has also intimated the union minister with a letter in this regard.
The police investigation reported that the two extortioners were identified as Mohammad Asif and Qadir who were charged under Section 420 i.e.cheating, of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
However, no arrests have not been made so far as the matter is still under investigation.The issue came into light when one of the complainant Saroj whose husband Harjinder Singh is one of the 14 stranded people, lodged a complaint alleging that the travel agents had assured them to send to Saudi Arabia on work visa, but they were sent there on tourist visa.
The agents had also cheated them by charging Rs. 90,000 each as fee to get them their work visa and jobs at Saudi Arabia, she alleged.
