Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has written to Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar seeking the safe repatriation of Indramani Nautiyal, a resident of Uttarkashi who is reportedly living in a hostage-like situation in Saudi Arabia. The Chief Minister has requested the Government of India to take immediate necessary action in the matter and intervene effectively on humanitarian grounds.
Indramani Nautiyal had travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2018 in search of employment. He was working as a truck driver with Pick Roads and Contracting Company in Riyadh. During the same year, he was involved in a serious road accident. Subsequently, under the Saudi judicial process, he was sentenced to one year in prison. In addition, the company owner was fined 9 lakh Saudi riyals in connection with deficiencies related to the truck’s insurance and registration. The amount is estimated to be approximately ₹2.29 crore in Indian currency.
The family alleges that despite several years having passed since the incident, the company owner has not paid the fine. As a result, Indramani Nautiyal is allegedly being kept in a hostage-like situation and pressured to arrange payment of the fine. His wife and daughter have made efforts at various levels to secure his return to India, but the family has not received the expected assistance. As a result, the family is facing severe mental and financial hardship.
Request for Immediate Intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs
In his letter to the External Affairs Minister, Chief Minister Dhami has requested that the concerned authorities be directed to take immediate steps to free Indramani Nautiyal from the alleged hostage-like situation, provide the necessary legal and financial assistance, and ensure his safe return to India.
The Chief Minister said that the state government would make every possible effort to assist any Uttarakhand resident facing difficult circumstances abroad. He expressed the hope that the Central Government and the Ministry of External Affairs would adopt a humanitarian approach and intervene effectively in the matter so that Indramani Nautiyal can receive relief and his family can see their loved one safely return home.
