Punjab Newsline | Ropar
A youth from Ropar district has reportedly been sentenced to death by a court in Saudi Arabia in a drug trafficking case, prompting his elderly mother to seek urgent intervention from the Indian government.
The youth, identified as Gurpreet Singh, is a resident of Lower Patti village in Nangal. He had travelled to Muscat around four years ago in search of work and was employed as a truck driver. Later, he moved to Saudi Arabia, where he was arrested around two years ago after drugs were allegedly recovered from his truck.
Gurpreet's mother, Jaswant Kaur, said her son is the only male member and sole support of the family. His father has already died. She has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to intervene and help save her son.
Jaswant Kaur recently met Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains and requested his intervention. She said Gurpreet had been implicated in the case and maintained that he was innocent.
According to the family, Saudi police registered a case against Gurpreet after allegedly recovering narcotic substances from his truck. He was subsequently arrested and jailed. The family has now appealed to the Indian government to take up the matter with Saudi authorities and seek commutation of his death sentence.
Village sarpanch Monika Devi said residents were deeply distressed after learning about Gurpreet's death sentence. She urged the government and concerned authorities to take up the matter through diplomatic channels with Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Minister Harjot Singh Bains assured the family of assistance. He said the demand for a mercy petition to seek relief for Gurpreet would immediately be placed before the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
Bains said the case would be raised with the Saudi Arabian government at the diplomatic level. He also assured the family that he would make every possible effort for Gurpreet's safe return to India and provide support to his family.
