Five men from Telangana, who had been jailed in Dubai for 18 years, finally returned home to their families on Tuesday. A video of their triumphant reunion, facilitated by BRS leader KT Rama Rao, is now viral on social media.
In 2005, five individuals, Shivarathri Mallesh, Shivarathri Ravi, Gollem Nampally, Dundugula Laxman, and Shivarathri Hanmanthu, all residents of Telangana’s Rajanna Sircilla district, were working in Dubai when they were accused of murder of a Nepali national, who used to work as a watchman in the Gulf nation. They were charged and then handed 25 years of prison sentences.
KTR took it upon himself to champion their cause and tirelessly advocated for their release through diplomatic channels. In 2011, he visited Nepal and met with the victim’s family, presenting them with financial compensation of Rs 15 lakh.
బీఆర్ఎస్ వర్కింగ్ ప్రెసిడెంట్, మాజీ మంత్రి @KTRBRS గారి పట్టువదలని కృషితో… 18 ఏండ్ల జైలు జీవితం అనంతరం దుబాయ్ నుండి స్వదేశానికి తిరిగి వచ్చిన రాజన్న సిరిసిల్ల జిల్లా వాసులు
అందరికీ విమాన టిక్కెట్లు సమకూర్చిన మాజీ మంత్రి, సిరిసిల్ల ఎమ్మెల్యే కేటీఆర్
ఆగని కన్నీళ్లు… 18… pic.twitter.com/1bEPM1zrw8
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) February 21, 2024
Over in Dubai, the language barrier complicated the five Telangana men’s legal situation, and despite appeals and efforts, they faced a harsh sentence from the Dubai court. Their initial amnesty petition was rejected by the Dubai Court, prolonging their incarceration.
The turning point came with a change in Dubai’s laws, opening a window of opportunity for their release. In September last year, Minister KTR, with the assistance of the Union Ministry of External Affairs, secured an audience with the ruler of Dubai Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to plead for amnesty in the case.
Eventually, the five men’s mercy petition was approved and weeks of negotiations culminated in their release from jail.
