India's intervention asked for missing workers

Dubai, Sept 16: Three Indians, who are missing from Qatar and believed to be in Saudi Arabia where their sponsors have forcibly taken them to tend their farms in the middle of the scorching desert, have created disquiet among the Indian community who are demanding New Delhi's direct intervention to get them released.

Babu Thuvaraveettil, who hails from Kerala and employed as a driver, managed to contact his relatives and said his sponsor took him away from Qatar to Saudi Arabia to be confined to a thatched shed in the middle of a deserted area and did not have a clue where he was.

Another Indian, identified as Mohamed Abul Lais from Patna, was forcibly taken away by his employer to work in his Saudi farm.

Augustine Leon Therath, missing since last Thursday, was traced to Saudi Arabia's eastern province.

While their friends in both the countries are seeking to get them released, Indian community workers in Qatar said only direct intervention by New Delhi could help speed up their release.

UNI