• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

A distressing video of an Indian man from Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district, allegedly trapped and pleading for help in Saudi Arabia, has gone viral on social media, prompting the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to launch efforts to locate him. The man, speaking in Bhojpuri, claimed he is being held against his will and fears for his life.

The viral clip shows the man, visibly shaken, standing in a desert area with a camel in the background. He says his name and village are from Allahabad (now Prayagraj) and alleges that a man named Kapil has confiscated his passport. “My village is in Allahabad… I came to Saudi Arabia. Kapil has my passport. I told him I need to go home, but he is threatening to kill me,” the man can be heard saying in the video.

With desperation in his voice, he pleads for help, saying, “Brother, please share this video, share it so much that, with your support from India, I can get help and come back home. Whether you are Hindu or Muslim, please help me. I will die; I need to go to my mother.”

Indian Embassy Responds, Seeks More Details

After the video was shared widely, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh issued a statement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), confirming that officials were trying to trace the man.

“Embassy has been trying to locate the person. No further action can be taken as the video does not contain any details about the location/province in Saudi Arabia, or contact number or employer details,” the statement said.

The mission also appealed to Delhi-based lawyer Kalpana Shrivastav, who first posted the video online, to assist by providing more information. “@Lawyer_Kalpana, please seek details from the source of the video you have posted,” the embassy added.

In a coordinated effort, the Indian Embassy has reached out to the Prayagraj district administration for assistance. “As the person says he is from Prayagraj district, @DM_PRAYAGRAJ @Sp_prayag @prayagraj_pol may also reach out to his family and advise them to write to us at cw.riyadh@mea.gov.in,” the embassy posted.

Local authorities in Uttar Pradesh have reportedly begun efforts to trace the man’s family to gather more information about his identity and the recruiter he mentioned in the video.

ALSO READ: What Is Kafala System? Saudi Arabia Ends 'Modern Slavery' That Affected 2.3 Million Indians

Video Sparks Outrage and Concern Online

The video, shared by advocate Kalpana Shrivastav, has gained over 1.4 lakh views within 24 hours. Tagging External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, she urged immediate intervention, writing, “Honourable Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar ji, please take cognizance. A resident of PrayagrajHandiaPratappur is stuck in Saudi Arabia.”

ALSO READ: Who Is Manakandathil Thekkethi? Fugitive Brought Back By CBI From Saudi Arabia In Conspiracy, Cheating Case

Social media users across India have been amplifying the clip with hashtags like #HelpUPMan and #RescueFromSaudi, calling for swift government action. As of Friday evening, officials had yet to confirm the man’s identity or exact location in Saudi Arabia. The embassy has requested anyone with credible leads,  including family members or associates of the man, to contact them directly at cw.riyadh@mea.gov.in.

Also In News