TN hopes for breakthrough in repatriating stranded fishermen in next two days

CHENNAI:

Stranded, starving and without any papers in an alien land, 21 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who have been cheated by their employer in Busher in Iran and denied their passport are living on hope that both state and Central government will come to their rescue.

An official from Commissionerate of rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils said that state government has taken up the issue with Ministry of External Affairs to provide the fishermen with required papers so that they can be repatriated with their families.

“In the next couple of days we are hopeful that some breakthrough could be achieved,” the official who is interacting with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the fishermen are brought back to the state, said.

The official said that the state government has urged  Ministry of External Affairs to get in touch with the Iranian officials in Bandar Abbas to help get back the passports which have been kept under the custody of the employer.

“The state government will be bearing all the travel and accommodation cost to bring back the fishermen,” said the official.

It is learnt that the fishermen were cheated allegedly by Indian agents Mangala Travels and one Antony, an unregistered agent, of Rajakamangalam in Kanyakumari district and taken to Dubai on a visit visa, according to National Domestic Workers Movement which is coordinating with the state, Ministry of External Affairs and the fishermen’s families.

Antony had recruited the fishermen with the help of Mangalam Travels by getting huge money for air ticket and visas. They were initially provided tourist visa to Dubai wherein they stayed from December 7 to 12.

On December 12, Antony provided tickets to travel to Bushehr. Once they arrived in Bushehr, their passports werer withheld and they were given residence card to be in Iran.

The sponsor Mohamad Sala denied them their due salary for the last six months and when the fishermen demanded it they were evicted from their residence and left to fend in hot sun, NDWM said.