Stranded expatriate seeks Indian embassy’s help to leave country

A 70-year-old Indian expatriate yesterday sought the intervention of the embassy to help him leave the country after being stranded for close to a decade.The person, identified as Krishnadas, hailing from Ernakulam district in Kerala told an embassy official that even though he wanted to leave his employers and the country for good, the company is not permitting him to go, citing flimsy reasons. “It is the first time, he is bringing the issue to the embassy’s attention and we will take up the matter with his employers and local officials,” said Minister (Political) at the embassy Sanjiv Kohli. “We are hopeful that the issue would be settled once and for all in the shortest possible time,” he said.There was another case of a woman, also a Keralite, seeking the mission’s help to waive her fine for overstaying in the country, after coming on a visit visa to join her husband, who was a small time trader. During her stay, she became pregnant and she delivered a baby earlier this month. The husband citing financial difficulties about paying the accumulated fine sought the embassy’s assistance for her exit from the country. The senior embassy official said the help of the local department concerned would be sought to help the woman and child travel home without making them pay the heavy fine.Altogether, only six cases were brought to the community house yesterday.Later, it was informed that until yesterday, 99 death cases were reported at the embassy since the beginning of this year. “Compared to the last few years, there was a steady fall in the numbers at this time of the year,” said an embassy official.There are 38 Indian nationals, including three women at the central prison.One month since the last meeting saw the smallest number of Indian inmates at the deportation centre. “As of today, there were only 67 inmates at the deportation centre, who included eight women as well,” he said.Besides Sanjiv Kohli, embassy officials Anil Nautiyal,   B T Thyagi and Shivendra Meena answered queries from journalists. Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) vice president Habib un-Nabi was also present.