New Delhi has taken up with Kuwait the matter of arrest of 25 Indian workers there. The Indian nationals have been arrested following a brawl with their Egyptian co-workers in which two Egyptians have died.
The incident took place on Wednesday when Indian and Egyptian workers of Ahmidiya Construction company clashed among each other. The company has about 500 Indians working with it. It is learnt that the Kuwait police has arrested 25 Indians on charges of murder while a dozen, who were injured in the brawl, are admitted in a hospital.
While the construction site has been closed down at the moment, all other Indian workers are, reportedly, locked up in the compound. The workers have sent videos to their families in India complaining of mistreatment by Kuwaiti police and the company. They have alleged that the police is not listening to their side of story. In the video messages the Indians have appealed to the Indian government for help while many expressed desire to come back.
According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian mission in Kuwait is trying to reach out to the arrested Indians through Counselor access. However, the government has also asked the Indians on foreign soil to abide by the local laws and regulations. The Indian embassy officials have visited the hospital where 15 Indians were admitted after the incident.
“Our mission has written to the Kuwaiti foreign ministry and sought their assistance in the matter. We have also requested for Counselor access and we will provide that to any Indian nation who needs it there. Our mission has also gone to hospitals to check the welfare of Indians. No Indian national is critical or in danger as of now,” said
MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin. He added that the remaining Indians are safe in their camps. Indians have been segregated from
workers belonging to other nationalities considering the safety aspect.
“We have called the management of the company to discuss with them and we will work with them to try and ensure that normal food provision, etc are there for Indian nationals in the camp. Incidentally they are in the camp and we are working through this. Despite today being a Friday which is a holiday in Kuwait we have worked through this,” said Akbaruddin.