Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, May 27: Relief and joy hung in the air as Puneeth and Damodar, who were stranded in Saudi Arabia after a recruitment agency allegedly cheated them with false assurance of lucrative jobs, walked into freedom as they arrived at Mangaluru International Airport here on Saturday May 27 morning.
Puneeth from Ganjimutt and Damodar from Mulky had gone to Saudi Arabia after they were promised jobs as painters with good salaries, but on reaching there, they found to their utter shock that they been duped by the city-based recruitment agency. They were forced to work as shepherds in Saudi Arabia, and after their employer seized their passports, they were left stranded. After daijiworld and other media reported about their plight, the Indian Social Forum (ISF) stepped in to rescue them, and after much efforts and legal recourse, finally managed to free the youths from bondage.
Puneeth and Damodar travelled from Saudi Arabia to Dubai by FlyDubai flight, and then by Jet Airways to Mangaluru. They reached Mangaluru airport at around 8 am, where they were welcomed by social worker Tauseef, members of ISF and family members.
Speaking to daijiworld, a relieved Damodar said, "We are thankful to the Almighty and members of the Indian Social Forum. We do not want to recall the horrible days in the Saudi desert. Only when we boarded the flight back from Saudi did we feel that we are finally free. During the last five days, ISF members gave us shelter in their houses. They treated us as their own family members. They were in constant touch with the Saudi labour court and the government officials for the last three weeks. Their efforts have given us freedom. Now we want to see our family members, relatives, and friends.
"We do not want to go abroad for work any more. We will work in our own place. We thank daijiworld and other media who stood by us in our difficult times," he added.
ISF member Ayaz who is on vacation made special efforts in the release of the youths, coordinating with the Saudi unit of ISF as well as Puneeth and Damodar's families back home.
ISF members Fayaz Uppinangady and others were present.