700 Telangana migrants stuck in Iraq

Hyderabad: In June 2014, an estimated 700 people from Telangana were stranded in Iraq, which was witnessing a war for control of the nation. Most were from Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Adilabad districts.

The situation revealed irregularities in migration, as out of the 700, around 694 were illegal emigrants with Emigration Clearance as they crossed over to Iraq after travelling to Kuwait on work permit.

Mr Kiran Kumar, from Karimnagar district, who lived in Iraq and had experience of the Iran-Iraq conflicts said, “We were given accommodation between Kirkuk and Erbin (cities in Iraq) by the company. I was appointed as a quality controller at the Karwanchi group of companies. Towards the end of June 2014, around 200 Telugu migrants working at one company were done with the day’s work and sat for dinner at the company canteen, Suddenly, we heard firing. At around 9 pm they attacked the company, a group of five to six men. They started firing. The firing stopped for a while and the second round was at 3 am and then stopped. We did not sleep and had no permission to exit from other outlets. The company refused to transport us. One of us called the Indian Embassy early in the morning to save us. The officials then called the company to return our passports and the embassy arranged two buses to the airport and all the 200 flew back.”

Another Mr Bala Krishna, said, “I was cheated by the agent who promised me a job at a construction company. The day I reached Iraq with the agency not communicating, I got help from others from the state and got a job at a hotel. I lived in Erbil in Iraq and was on a visit visa. I was in my room when the firing started in Erbil. The entire city shut down. There was no food available. For a week we were locked in the room. The Indian Embassy was offering free tickets but was getting delayed. So I spent my own money and returned. The situation was then under control at Erbil”.