Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Sep 1: 'Ultracit', a pain reliever tablet, which is banned in Gulf countries, had been carried by Shankar Poojary (40) from Basrur near here to Kuwait. He did not know that this drug is banned there. Kuwait police have kept him in Sulaibiya Public Prison in Kuwait since the last three months, it is said.
Dr Ravindranath Shanbhog, chairman of Human Rights Protection Foundation here, said that the foundation got this information when it got in touch with the concerned on the basis of request made by Shankar Poojary's wife, Jyothi.
Shankar Poojary, working in Kuwait since the last four years, had come home on short holiday three months back. When he was about to return, Mubarak from Udupi, who happens to be the son-in-law of Tasleema Fatima (45), had given Poojary a packet containing tablets a day before the latter was to return to Kuwait, for being delivered to his mother-in-law, it is said.
When Shankar Poojary landed in Kuwait with the said parcel, the police checked the drugs parcel, arrested him, and lodged him in the jail.
Shankar Poojary had called his wife on July 13 and informed her that he had been imprisoned because of the medicines given to him by Mubarak. After he was arrested, Poojary contacted Tasleema twice and sought her help to come out of this mess, but the lady did not do anything to help Poojary, Shanbhog stated.
Social websites have been flooded with comments relating to this case against Sushma Swaraj, union government, Mubarak etc.
As per the website of the external affairs ministry, Shankar Poojary was jailed for possessing drugs and that his family has been informed about further steps. As this is a charge of treachery, the central government or external affairs ministry cannot directly get involved with this case. If legal experts in foreign countries extend support, Shankar Poojary can come out of jail, Shanbhog opines.