Jaipur:
Air India stowaway Habib Hussain's dreams of being a free man in his own country could come true. Habib is currently in a jail in Jaipur and his bail application is coming up in a Jaipur court. He is being held as he hid in a toilet in an Air India flight from Saudi Arabia to return to India and claims he was kept in Saudi Arabia like a bonded slave.
Habib Hussain's escape from Saudi Arabia has led to a huge controversy over security. He claims he was desperate to escape from Saudi Arabia where he was kept like a bonded slave, his passport was taken away and was beaten and made to work without pay.
He survived on alms handed to him by pilgrims to Mecca and Madina and could afford to eat only once a day. Habib says there are many other Indians like him who are lured with the promise of jobs but treated like slaves. "There are many who are being mistreated. Brokers take you there and once you are there they don't pay you and in a way they sell you off," says Habib.
Habib's brother, Jalal Ud Din, who has borrowed money to get Habib out of jail, says the family is already deeply in debt. His brother was duped by an agent promising him 15 to 20,000 rupees in Saudi. However, Habib says he only wants to meet his pregnant wife and two children. "He gave the agent Rs 30,000 and then sold his land through the agent for another Rs 1.3 lakh. In total he is down by Rs 1.6 lakh."
"I just pray to the government to let me go home to my family. I cry every day when I think of them."
The police have interrogated Habib for over 10 days. Technically they have only been able to charge him for traveling without a passport. Habib's lawyer, Ashwini Kumar Mishra says, "He has not been arrested under any grave charges, and we have his documents to prove his identity and domicile status."
While the police have ruled out any terrorist links in Habib's attempt to escape, his successful landing in India has put the security arrangements in the dock.
Habib Hussain's escape from Saudi Arabia has led to a huge controversy over security. He claims he was desperate to escape from Saudi Arabia where he was kept like a bonded slave, his passport was taken away and was beaten and made to work without pay.
He survived on alms handed to him by pilgrims to Mecca and Madina and could afford to eat only once a day. Habib says there are many other Indians like him who are lured with the promise of jobs but treated like slaves. "There are many who are being mistreated. Brokers take you there and once you are there they don't pay you and in a way they sell you off," says Habib.
Habib's brother, Jalal Ud Din, who has borrowed money to get Habib out of jail, says the family is already deeply in debt. His brother was duped by an agent promising him 15 to 20,000 rupees in Saudi. However, Habib says he only wants to meet his pregnant wife and two children. "He gave the agent Rs 30,000 and then sold his land through the agent for another Rs 1.3 lakh. In total he is down by Rs 1.6 lakh."
"I just pray to the government to let me go home to my family. I cry every day when I think of them."
The police have interrogated Habib for over 10 days. Technically they have only been able to charge him for traveling without a passport. Habib's lawyer, Ashwini Kumar Mishra says, "He has not been arrested under any grave charges, and we have his documents to prove his identity and domicile status."
While the police have ruled out any terrorist links in Habib's attempt to escape, his successful landing in India has put the security arrangements in the dock.
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