Stranded migrant back home from Kuwait at last

Hyderabad: Tuniki Naresh, hailing from Jagtial district, got stranded in Kuwait, after another man with the same name who died in an accident left some dues. Naresh’s employer processed his documents mistaking him for the dead person leaving him stranded. 

Naresh who had been running around offices in Kuwait decided to commit suicide so that his family will get his body but gave up the thought after speaking to his kids.

After two years of struggle he reached home. He said that he had to shell out Rs 5.5 lakh to returnhome. NRI cell officials said they had been pursuing his case with the embassy.

Mr E. Chittibabu of the NRI cell said they came to know of the issue after Naresh’s wife approached NRI affairs minister K.T. Rama Rao and submitted a representation. “After this, the minister instructed us to pursue the matter and I wrote to the Kuwait embassy for his safe repatriation,” Mr Chittibabu said. 

Tuniki Naresh went to Kuwait to work as a rigger in the Integrated Logistics Company and his contract expired in July 2016. 

When he wanted to return home he found that his employer had submitted visa and ID documents of another person with the same name who had died in an accident instead of his. 

The dead man had purchased mobiles using his employee card and had debts of 2,350 Dirhams (Rs 5 lakh), the dues fell on him. This made his exit difficult. He was told to clear the dues and leave the country. 

“I had no hope of returning and had decided to commit suicide one day. I called my family one last time. But after I spoke to my son I changed my mind. I decided that at any cost I would return,” said Naresh, adding that his wife also became depressed and attempted suicide, but was rescued. 

“I had to sell my wife’s and mother’s jewellery and also a plot that I had bought to raise the amount for my return. I went to Kuwait with hopes of providing a better future for my children but came back without anything,” Naresh told this newspaper.