Indian Embassy given 15,000 runaways' passports

RIYADH: GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN

Monday 13 May 2013

Last Update 13 May 2013 2:22 am

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has handed over about 15,000 passports of Indian workers, facing "huroob" cases or other violations, to the Indian Embassy. "Most passports, surrendered by sponsors to the Saudi authorities, belong to stranded Indian workers, including those languishing in jails on huroob charges or on charges of violation of Saudi residency laws," said Sibi George, deputy chief at the Indian mission.
"The move will help to repatriate all those workers currently facing huroob (absconding) charges, provided they have no civil or criminal case against them," said George.
In fact, all huroob cases against expats are expected to be dropped through the new mechanism announced by the Labor Ministry.
About 80 percent of Indian workers applying for emergency travel documents are runaway workers, including those facing huroob charges.
The move will also help resolve the issue of "fraudulent huroob (unjust accusation of running away from a sponsor) that has landed many Indians in jails or prevented them from returning to India," said George. The embassy has uploaded a list of the passports on its website at www.indianembassy.org.sa.
These passports can be collected from the embassy from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting from today through Saturday except on Fridays. Indians who lost their passports may verify their passport numbers from the list and approach the embassy with their passport numbers, serial and packet numbers as given in the list.
An embassy statement said a passport photocopy may be brought along to collect the passport. The passport would be returned only to the holder. Those unable to collect their passports directly may contact the embassy on 01 4884697, 01 4881982, 0501699879, 0501700106, 0501699895, 0501699894.

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