Prabhakaran, 55, from Thiruvananthapuram, came to the Kingdom in the eighties to work as a mason. But following differences with his sponsor he was rendered an illegal for the last seven years, as his iqama was not renewed.

He was working in Tabuk city when he suffered a paralytic attack in January 2010. Since then he has been undergoing medical treatment at King Fahd Hospital, Tabuk. The Indian community was taking care of him.

He has not visited India for the last 16 years, and after the paralytic attack lost touch with his family. His problem was compounded as the hospital bills totaled SR260,000 and as he could not settle it, the hospital did not release him.

The matter was taken up with Tabuk Gov. Prince Fahd bin Sultan, by Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, during a courtesy call on Sunday, where he raised Prabhakaran’s issue. The governor then agreed to waive the payment of the medical bill. He immediately directed the hospital authorities to release Prabhakaran. The consul general thanked the governor for his benevolence and assistance to this destitute Indian.

Prabhakaran will be repatriated with the assistance of the Indian community members in Tabuk and the Indian mission in Jeddah. The Committee of Community Welfare Association, Tabuk, played a lead role in assisting Prabhakaran.