Letter to Associations in Kuwait

Amid reports of security raids on 6/6/2014 in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Murghab, Fahaheel, Abu Halifa, Al-Rai, Friday Market and some adjacent areas in Shuwaikh wherein approximate 820 expatriates were rounded for violating various Kuwaiti rule and regulations, Counsellor  B K Upadhyay has met  Maj Gen Abdul Fatah Al-Ali, Assistant Under Secretary, Public Security Affairs, MOI, Kuwait on 10/06/2014 to discuss the issues involved and appraise few complaint received from Indians. Following advice is given to Indian community to avoid them get involved in illegal activities and later being deported.

1.     Recent raid was conducted based on complains received from various Ministries particularly Municipality, Commerce and Labour that expatriates were involved in selling used clothes, waste vegetables, expired food products etc at cheaper rates  in the residential colonies and side of cooperatives. Such street type vendors are unauthorized and creating problems affecting the functioning of above ministries. 

2.     Before making raids, the residences, market area, outside cooperatives, etc were photographed and the activities of such persons have been so that such persons could be segregated from casual visitors. So details were collected in advance by police before planning raids.

3.     Those who are detained due to case lodged by their sponsor could be released by their sponsor only. It was informed that details of cases against individual have been computerized and one can get it checked oneself. In case of absconding cases, any individual can visit the Ministry of Labour and submit that one is not absconding. He is working out because the sponsor failed to give him work. He can insist that Sponsor may be called and he is ready to go back with him.

4.     Maj Gen Abdul Fatah Al-Ali He further said that let these people have an authorization letter from the Sponsor that he is permitting them to work outside.

5.     On query regarding fear of night checking, it was informed that there would be no night checking and public need not to fear from it. In case anybody coming for night checking in civil dress, please ask for identity card and inform on number 112 of such checking. Police would help is such cases.  

Please avoid spreading unsubstantiated rumours and do not create panic situation. Out of 820 expatriates who were rounded up on 6/6/2014, 720 were released after verification.  Out of these 60 who were rounded for the above mentioned illegal activities, only 15-20 are Indians.  That too there are photographs and video recording of their illegal activities. The Embassy will continue to render all help to the members of India community.

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