A HOMELESS man who had been living in a park in Manama for the past 10 days has been offered a place to stay.
Indian Ramana Thogiti, aged 37, who was spotted by social workers in the park near Al Hamra cinema yesterday afternoon said he was a victim of rogue recruiters in his home town of Telangana – and Bahrain.
He claimed he had paid around BD475 (100,000 Indian rupees) to an agent in his village in the southern Indian state’s Jagtial district for a visit visa and was promised a job in a steel plant in Bahrain.
On February 20 this year, he was received at Bahrain International Airport by another Indian man who identified himself as a supply company employee and known to the Indian agent.
Soon, Mr Thogiti realised that there was no job, his visit visa had expired and he had become an illegal resident in the kingdom.
Yesterday, he was put up in a room near the park until his case is resolved.
He told the GDN that until last month, he was living in Tubli in a restaurant at the mercy of some men from his home state.
“I couldn’t pay them, and they couldn’t afford to give me free food and shelter, so I had to leave,” he explained.
“I came to this park and went without food for almost three days before I started begging for money or food; the heat was unbearable and I thought I was going to die.
“I didn’t know what to do until some social workers arrived and got me food and a place to stay.”
Mr Thogiti said he wished to return home as soon as possible to see his wife and their two sons, aged 19 and 17.
He has requested the Indian Embassy to assist him in leaving the country as soon as possible, and urged authorities to waive his overstay fees.
“I knew it was a visit visa, but the agent back home told me I had a job here in a steel plant and my visa would be converted as soon as I landed,” he explained.
“I was taken to a carpentry workshop first, then to a laundry, but neither job lasted long because I was not paid a single fil. I tried contacting the Indian man who met me at the airport, but could not.
“I managed to get some money from my village while living in the restaurant, but soon ran out and I became homeless.
“I paid 100,000 Indian rupees for the visit visa; I took loans for it and have not been able to repay that. Now I’ve learned that I have to pay a fine for overstaying and I have no way of doing that.
“I have requested assistance from the embassy and I implore all officials in Bahrain to please send me home; my family is distraught and struggling without any income.”
Telugu Kala Samithi (TKS) member Rajesh Gaouda, who was at the park yesterday told the GDN that he had discussed what could be done for Mr Thogiti with the TKS executive committee.
“Right now, we’ve provided him with some food and a place to stay. We’ll notify the embassy and see what we can do to send him home.”
According to Bahraini law, the man faces an overstay fine of around BD200.
The local agent could not be reached for a comment.
raji@gdnmedia.bh
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