Duped by agency, 2 Mangaluru youths languish in Saudi sheep farm; seek MEA help

May 16, 2017

Mangaluru, May 16: It’s a story that repeats countless times: Job aspirants who fly to Arabian Gulf seeking greener pasture later realize that they were in fact fooled by their agents. This time two youths from Mangaluru taluk were duped by the travel agencies.

Damodar Shettigar (31), a resident of Gandhinagar in Ganjimat, and Puneeth Jayaraj (25), a resident of Mulki left for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December last year to work as auto spray painters. However, it was only after they reached the country that the duo realized that they would be asked to look after a sheep farm.

For the past five months they have been taking care of sheep in an isolated farm in the Arab country. Now they have sought the help of the Indian embassy to return home.

According to Shettigar, their owner feeds them but hardly paid any remuneration so far. "We filed a complaint with the Indian embassy through MADAD, an online consular grievances management system of the Ministry of External Affairs on April 4. We've been keeping the agencies in Mangaluru and Mumbai abreast of our problems here," he said.

Shettigar said that both he and Jayaraj had paid Rs 78,000 each to the agent to obtain visas and for other expenses. "We told the agent that we were not given the job that was promised when we applied for the visa. The agencies kept promising us that we would be shifted to a workshop soon, but we are being tortured here," said Shettigar, adding that their passports had been withheld by their visa sponsor.

Jayaraj said that they had to work in the scorching heat. "We've been requesting the Indian government to help us return home as soon as possible," he added.

The status of the complaint registered under the 'repatriation' category on MADAD by Jayaraj reads, "The caller, Mr Puneeth went to Saudi Arabia on December 20, and was working with Shams Auto Car Maintenance. Citizen was not paid salary for the past four months. Kafeel (visa spomsor) has ceased the citizen's passport, and not allowing the citizen to return. The caller has requested repatriation to India as soon as possible."

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

SMR Public School’s ‘EXCELLENTIA’ highlights academic excellence and holistic growth

News Network

December 16,2025

Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.

Comments