A 25-year-old man from Sheikhpur Chhatauna village in the Pratappur block of Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district has released an emotional plea from Saudi Arabia, saying he has been stranded there after
his employer confiscated his travel documents and forced him into desert labour.
In a video circulated on social media, Ankit Bharti, also known as Indrajit, said that he travelled to Riyadh on October 1 to earn money after being persuaded by his wife, Pinky, and his father-in-law, Rajesh Saroj. He told viewers that instead of the work he had been promised, he is being made to herd camels across a barren stretch, is isolated and frightened, and has repeatedly asked to be allowed to return home to his mother.
Indrajit, who studied up to high school, is the elder of two brothers; his father, Jayprakash Bharti, works as a mechanic, while his younger brother, Ranjit, remains at home. He married Pinky of Purana Khopa village, Kaushambi, in June 2020; the couple have a three-year-old son, and a daughter was born after he left for Saudi Arabia. Indrajit said he had been promised a monthly wage of about 1,200 Saudi riyals (roughly Rs 28,000) but is not being given the job he expected.
In his appeal he named the local sponsor and said the sponsor had taken his passport. Addressing his mother, he accused his wife and father-in-law of trapping him in the job.
Watch the viral video:
His mother, Ranju Devi, however, said the overseas posting was his first and that he was struggling to adjust to the new environment. She added that he was expected to remain on a two-year visa.
His wife, Pinky, said the couple have been speaking daily on calls and acknowledged that in moments of anger he sometimes posts distressing videos on social media. Local officials have been informed and the matter is under investigation.
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