U T Khader comes as saviour to this Keralite stranded in Saudi Arabia

Kollam: With hopes in his eyes, 39-year-old Abdul Kareem Ibrahim Kutti would have greetedAssalamau Alaikum' to many but he never knew that this one greeting would change his unchanging reality.

For this Indian hailing from Kollam district of Kerala, it was probably all about being at a right place, at the right time to meet the right person. Fortunately it happened.

He greeted a gentleman in the pious premises of Prophet's mosque, in the holy city of Madinah Munavvara and the gentleman turned out to be none other than Minister for Health in Government of Karnataka, U T Khader, who was there on anUmrah' trip last week.

Ibrahim Kutti narrated his hard luck story to Mr Khader, who gave a patient hearing.

“I am an Indian. I have been stranded in this country for more than a year after being duped by a visa agent. I have no money in my pocket to return home,” he told Mr Khader.

Mr Khader wanted to know more about the stranded Indian and help him. In a few minutes of conversation the people who had accompanied the minister, realized that the man's case was not easily solvable as he had no valid documents to stay in Saudi Arabia.

About 15 months ago Ibrahim Kutti had come to Saudi Arabia throughRoyal Travels'. However, the agents had duped him. He could not even meet his sponsor despite approaching a few NRI groups in the Kingdom.

“The agents did not even provide me the contact number of the sponsor. I had to wander from place to place. I worked for a meager salary in different places. Meantime myIqama' also expired,” said Ibrahim Kutti, whose ultimate aim now was to return to his homeland.

The minister took him in his car to the Indian consulate situated in Jeddah, over four hundred kilo metres away from Madinah and requested the authorities to help this man.

Moved by the recommendation of the minister, the authorities personally interrogated the Kerala based man and after realizing that he had been duped by agents, they made all necessary arrangements to send him back to India. Within two days, i.e. on June 27 he reached Kerala.

NRI organisations in Saudi Arabia and the family members of Mr Kutti have expressed gratitude to Mr Khader, for taking personal interest to help a stranded Indian.

“The minister from Karnataka has done a great job, which was not possible even from a Kerala minister,” says head of a non-resident Keralites organisation in Saudi.