Saudi deports 120 Indians; grants amnesty

Dubai, Sep 24 (UNI) Saudi Arabia has deported 120 Indians, who were either working illegally or overstaying in the country after granting them amnesty from the prosecution.

An Indian embassy official said more than 20,000 people, including many Indians, had been detained during the past six months for overstaying after visiting the country for pilgrimage.

The Indians were given amnesty by the Saudi government and were repatriated to India on a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight last Thursday.

Three hundred and thirty-three Indian workers were granted royal pardon last year and 585 the year before.

The official said this Ramadan season, India would seek clemency for its nationals languishing in prisons, Arab News reported.

A number of workers, mostly from Kerala, are in Saudi prisons and deportation centers. Many of them are unable to play blood money for accidents resulting in deaths for which compensation has to be paid.

These workers are hopeful that the Indian government will plead for their release.

The Saudi government has pardoned a total of 2,376 Indians in the last five years.

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