NRI Commission to take up Punjab youths' issue with Centre

Taking suo motu cognisance of reports about 15 youths from Punjab languishing in a jail in Abu Dhabi, the state NRI Commission today said it would take up the issue with the Central government to ensure their early release.
The youths, who had gone to Abu Dhabi in search of livelihood, had been languishing in Al Wathba Jail since November 30.
They were imprisoned following a clash between two groups.
Taking suo moto cognisance of news reports about them, the Commission said it would take up the matter with the ministries of External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs to ensure their early release.

It asked SSPs of Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Tarn Taran districts to contact the aggrieved families, a Commission spokesman said.
The Commission asked the police officers to submit their reports by January 14 to enable it to initiate appropriate action for their release, he said.
Family members of the youths had met Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna yesterday and sought his intervention in the matter.