Man out of coma; waits to go home

Dubai, Jan 6 (UNI) A man from Punjab, who woke up from a three-month coma in a Bahraini hospital, is still there waiting to return home as he is yet to prove his Indian citizenship.

Carpenter Surjit Singh Bedi, who was found in an unconscious state without any identification by police in the Bahraini capital of Manama on July 31, 2006, is waiting for his relatives in India to get his citizenship documents so that his identity can be proven.

When he regained consciousness on October 28, Bedi could not remember who he was, but a former colleague recognised him on November 1 as hailing from Punjab.

Bedi's sister Harwinder Kaur was traced in Punjab, but she was unable to get his attested birth certificate and other documents from there that would help the Indian embassy to issue the exit papers.

Bedi, who left India 22 years ago, has not been in touch with his family, and her only sister who is bedridden is caught in bureaucratic red-tape.

UNI