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'1 of 14 stranded Indians in Saudi Arabia returns'

Shimla: One of 14 Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia has returned safely whereas the rest 13, including 12 residents of Himachal Pradesh, are safe, a government official said Tuesday. The state government said it was informed by the Centre that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh was making all efforts to get them released at the earliest.

The 14 people are stranded in Saudi Arabia with most of them, including residents of Himachal Pradesh, in the Middle East nation's jails after two local travel agents allegedly sent them to work there on tourist visas, police had said.

Of the 14 people, 12 belong to Himachal's Mandi district and two are from Punjab. Twelve are lodged in jails in Saudi Arabia. They are stranded as their tourist visas have expired and they do not have work visas, they said. Onkar Chand, a resident of Punjab, has already been deported to India. Two citizens namely Tanuj Kumar and Devender Kumar, who belong to Himachal's Mandi district have been released by their sponsor, a state government official said.

A senior embassy official spoke to these people and counselled them. Later, the embassy official also met the remaining Indians on December 2 and confirmed that all were fine.

The official said the Indian Embassy in Riyad met officials concerned of the Deportation Center, seeking early repatriation of the stranded Indians.

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