3 Tamil Nadu fishermen stranded in Sharjah

September 10, 2016 02:08

A Ganesh Nadar reports: Three fishermen from India are stranded in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates after their employer allegedly refused to return their passports.

Robert Bartholomew, Selvam Joseph and Arnold Anton had been working for Jasim Al Raeesi, a Saudi national, since April 2016.

On August 2, they were arrested by the Iranian Coast Guard for fishing in their waters. After having spent over a month in jail, their employer got them released after paying a fine of 250 Dirhams (Rs 4,555) for each.

However, when the trio told Al Raeesi that they wished to return home, he refused to return their passports and told them that they would have to continue working for him. When they insisted, he assaulted them.

Speaking to Rediff.com from Sharjah, Robert said: "He (the employer) always sends the boat into neighbouring countries. We were earlier arrested by the Dubai police for entering their waters illegally."

The fishermen said they have been trying to get in touch with the labour commissioner in Sharjah, but could not locate his office.

Back home, Father Churchill of the South Asian Fishermen Fraternity said that they had informed the district collector and were also getting in touch with the external affairs ministry to help the stranded fishermen.

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