Bangalore, October 26: The family members of Dr Usman Ghani, who was reportedly detained in Saudi Arabia at the behest of Karnataka police, have appealed Indian government to extend support to him.
Addressing a press meet in the city on Thursday Dr Ghani's mother Fatima Khan said that her innocent son has been languishing in Saudi Arabia for the past 15 days without charges, after he was picked up by the police there.
“I?demand that the Indian government extend the same support to all its citizens, which has been given to all the other victims of detention in foreign nations,” she said.
Dr Ghani's family members from Dharwad alleged that the victim was picked up by Saudi Arabian authorities from his work place at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh at 2 pm on October 8. “I?was informed by my daughter-in-law of Dr Ghani's arrest. Following the information, we have been appealing to the Indian Embassy to help us and secure his release, but to no avail,” said Fatima.
It could be recalled here that Dr Ghani, who had been picked up for questioning in Hubli in 2008 in connection with a terror attack, was later given a clean chit by the Karnataka police. He was then working with the Seventh Adventist Hospital in Ottapalam in Kerala.
“Once given a clean chit, he was allowed to go to Saudi Arabia. Why are the authorities still after him?” questioned Dr Ghani's mother.
The family has claimed that under Section 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Services, ratified by India and Saudi Arabia, it has been stated that the consular officers shall have the right to visit a national of the sending state who is in prison custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation.
“However, none of the laws have been implemented by both the nations. There has been no attempt by Indian authorities to help us,” alleged Fatima.
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