Mercy mission: Three men and their last hope

Indian community organisations are trying to raise money to secure the release of three men languishing in prisons in Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai.

S. A. Salim, President of the RAK Indian Association, said he recently visited Mohammad Esmail in jail to convey to him that he's been in touch with the family members of a Pakistani labourer who died after getting hit by a vehicle he was driving.

"Through the Pakistan centre in RAK and some Pakistani nationals, I established contact with the bereaved family which lives near Multan. The Pakistan Association is willing to negotiate to reduce the diya [blood money]," Salim said.

Esmail hails from Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, India. He has three children.

Accident victim

The Valley of Love, a non-profit social organisation in Dubai, is seeking the release of Murugadas Rajendran who has been in detention in Al Aweer jail since 2004.

"He was working as a signalman for the crane operator at Burj Dubai construction site. On August 26, 2004, due to very windy conditions, plywood blocks lifted by the crane swayed and the belt gave way. The blocks fell on a Pakistani site supervisor, resulting in his death while another person was injured," R.K. Nair, Coordinator of Valley of Love, said.

The Indian Community Welfare Committee has pledged Dh35,000, while Murugadas' colleagues have raised Dh60,000. John Samuel, a well- wisher, has put up Dh25,000, said Nair.

The family of the deceased victim has consented to his release.

No Insurance

The Valley of Love is also trying to raise funds for the blood money needed to facilitate the release of Jarahari Keefyour, a boat driver from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India.

On July 28, 2006, his boat hit another boat in the Dubai Creek, resulting in the death of the other boatman. Since his boat was not insured, Jarahari cannot claim insurance money to pay diya.