Indian, two Lankans beheaded in Saudi for murder

Dubai, Nov 5: Saudi Arabia beheaded one Indians and two Sri Lankans for robbing a house and murdering a woman in Nov 2005.

Indian consulate sources have confirmed that Mohammad Naushad hailing from Kerala, and two Lankans identified as Bandar Nikar and Halima Abdelkader were executed in Jeddah.

"Although there has been no communication from their (the authorities) end, as is always the case, we have got confirmation from the Arabic media that he (Naushad) has been executed," sources were quoted as saying in a news agency report.

The three men were part of a gang of 12 who robbed and murdered a Saudi woman in Nov 2005. In the judgement delivered in 2007, seven other men involved in the crime were given five-year jail terms and 500 lashes.

"We tried our best to save the Indian national from execution. First, we jointly pursued the matter with Sri Lankan consulate but there was no breakthrough. Even appeals for pardon to Saudi authorities were rejected," a consulate source was quoted as saying.

The bodies of the men were handed over the family or consulate services after the execution which was the first execution in 2009.

OneIndia News