Indian Worker Faces Death Sentence In Qatar. Family Seeks Government Intervention

Chennai: A 45-year-old man from Tamil Nadu, working as a construction labourer, is facing a death sentence in Qatar for allegedly murdering a woman.

Back home at Kannisery village in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district, there's a pal of gloom. Chelladurai's wife C Rajammal is shattered. She says he was wrongly implicated for the murder of a woman just three months after he left for Qatar in 2011. Last week, Chelladurai called her and told her about the capital punishment.

"Somehow he has to be brought home. I'm struggling with my children. We are all in pain thinking about him. I'm unable to settle the debts," said a sobbing Mrs Rajammal.

His nephew K Dhanushkodi said, "He has been jailed for no fault of his. The perpetrator was his roommate and they've arrested him too."

The family has not seen Chelladurai over the last five years. His wife works as a daily wage labourer in the fireworks industry. Unable to pay the fees, his son Rajesh Kumar, has dropped out of college.

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With legal help out of reach, Mrs Rajammal has petitioned the district collector seeking government intervention.

The District Collector's office has forwarded her complaint to the state and central governments.

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Authorities in the External Affairs Ministry said, "three Indians were sentenced to death in the case. The appeal too was turned down. A clemency petition has been filed."

The family is hoping against hope that their father and husband would be home soon.