Nagpur, March 7 The Maharashtra State Minorities Commission on Saturday urged for consular assistance for a doctor and a businessman from Nagpur who are currently detained in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, where they were performing Umrah.
Maharashtra State Minorities Commission chairperson Pyare Khan wrote to the Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after being informed of the situation by the duo's family.
The family, in their letter to the commission, stated that the two were detained after being falsely accused of engaging in brokerage activities without a company license.
"According to information received from the family of Abdul Asim Khan and Dr. Yahya Hunani, both from Nagpur, the two arrived in Jeddah on March 3 and traveled to Makkah for Umrah. On March 4, while offering prayers at Masjid Al-haram, they were reportedly approached by individuals in civilian clothing and subsequently taken into custody due to a misunderstanding during an interaction conducted solely in Arabic, which they do not understand," Khan said in the letter.
It has been reported that the two individuals are currently being held at the Al Shumaisi detention facility, and that deportation proceedings may have been initiated, the letter stated.
"The family of the two Indian nationals has expressed serious concerns about the circumstances of their detention and the allegations made against them. The Maharashtra State Minorities Commission has requested the embassy to extend urgent consular assistance, verify their status and well-being, and ensure that they receive due process and fair representation," the letter said.