RIYADH — An Indian social worker with the assistance of the Indian Embassy has managed to repatriate the body of one 50-year-old Indian named Yerrasentla Venkata Ramana, who reportedly died due to a fall, while attending to his duties as a shepherd. Venkata Ramana was from Kadapa, Nooliveedu, that was previously in the Andhra Pradesh state. He died at Hota Bani Tameem, 225 km away from Riyadh, on Nov. 25, 2014. His body was lying at Hotabani Tameem Hospital mortuary for the last one year. The deceased was from a poor joint family and his brother had borrowed huge amounts to send the late Venkata Ramana to Saudi Arabia for livelihood of this family. According to the deceased family's letter to the Embassy, they claimed that Venkata Ramana's death was suspicious and an inquiry was sought along with the forensic report and other related documents related to his death and transportation of mortal remains on Embassy expenses. Based on Indian Embassy's follow up with Saudi Foreign Ministry, Venkata Ramana's death was identified as a result of falling from height during working hours. This was confirmed to the embassy. The first follow up with Hota police was done by a Venkatesh, a fellow native village member of the deceased who also was working as an agricultural labor near the deceased's work place. But nothing happened and the body was not transported back home due to lack of proper follow-up and ignorance on the part of Venkatesh with regard to documentation and completion of formalities for dispatching the body. Venkatesh called and notified, with the help of another Indian from the state of Kerala, this case to Shihab Kottukad, the social worker, and requested his help to resolve the case as early as possible. Then Shihab brought this matter to the attention of Riyadh Embassy officials and based on Indian Embassy's authorizations Shihab traveled to Hota Bani Tameem and made many follow-up with the investigative authorities and police officers at Hota Bani Tameem and with Riyadh area. And based on the advise & help of both authorities; all required documentation procedure for body transportation to India has completed and shifted the body from Hota to Riyadh hospital mortuary. The belongings of the deceased was only some clothes and the pocket amount of 1,950 riyals plus an amount of SR 2,000 given by his sponsor as salary dues to the police station. The police handed over the belongings of the deceased to Venkatesh and the total amount received by Shihab was deposited with Indian Embassy for transferring it to the relatives of the deceased through proper government channels. The embassy again contacted the deceased's brother and requested for family readiness affidavit to receive the body at the airport. The deceased's brother Kummagiri Venksteswarlu confirmed that he would receive the body at Chennai Airport. The sponsor agreed to bear the cost of body transportation. Venkata Raman came to Saudi Arabia one year before of his death. Naseer Kozhikode also helped Shihab in going to Hota Bani Tameem on several occasions. Embassy community attache officers namely Manoj Kumar and Ms. Krishna Mudgil also extended all support.
