West Asia conflict: More than 700 travellers from MP stranded in UAE
Indore (PTI): More than 700 people from Madhya Pradesh, including two former MLAs, are stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to flight cancellations amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, an office-bearer of a travel agents' outfit said on Sunday.
Several people from the state had travelled to the UAE for tourism and business purposes, and the crisis in the region had left them stranded, Amol Kataria, chairman of the Travel Agents Federation of India's MP unit, told PTI.
Many travellers from the state had cancelled their upcoming trips to Dubai and Sharjah, he added.
ALSO READ: Delhi airport: 100 int'l flights cancelled amid Middle East conflict
Kataria said that more than 700 people were stuck in the UAE, and among them, former MLA and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sanjay Shukla is in Dubai.
"Due to the current international situation, our return to India today could not take place as Dubai airport was temporarily closed. We are receiving full cooperation from the Dubai administration and the Government of India. We will return to Indore as soon as the situation normalises," Shukla's post on social media stated.
Talking to PTI, the former Indore legislator's son, Sagar, said that his father had gone to Dubai three days ago with former Depalpur MLA Vishal Patel and some industrialist friends, and was scheduled to return to Indore on Sunday.
He said he had spoken to his father over the phone and heard explosions during the conversation, following which his father and his friends moved to a safe location.
He expressed hope that his father and his friends would return home soon with the efforts of the Indian government.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, in a social media post, claimed that over 100 citizens from the state were stranded at Dubai and Sharjah airports.
Women, children and families had been facing inconvenience for several hours, and anxiety had increased after flight cancellations, he said.
Patwari urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene immediately and ensure the safety of all Indians stranded in the UAE, while making arrangements for their early return home.
The United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed early on Sunday.
Hundreds of flights have been disrupted across West Asia and in other countries, including India, due to airspace restrictions following the joint attack and retaliatory action by Iran.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Two held for robbing man on knifepoint
Bengaluru (PTI): Two people have been arrested for allegedly robbing a man at knifepoint after seeking a lift on his two-wheeler, police said on Friday.
The accused, who were apprehended within a day of the complaint, are alleged to have assaulted the victim using a knife and helmet before fleeing with his vehicle, mobile phone and purse.
The victim, a manager at a Kalyana Mantapa in Nellukunte, has lodged a complaint at Chikkajala Police Station on March 26, police said.
He stated that at around 2.30 am on March 25, while heading towards Hunasamaranahalli Road for food, two unidentified persons requested a lift, which he agreed to.
"When they reached near D-Mart on Hosahalli Road, the accused asked him to stop the vehicle. Upon stopping, the accused abused him, assaulted him using a knife and helmet, and robbed his two-wheeler, mobile phone, and purse before fleeing," the release said.
During the investigation, police gathered credible leads and apprehended the two accused near Hunasamaranahalli on March 26.
"Upon interrogation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the offence," it said.
Based on their disclosure, the stolen two-wheeler, knife, helmet, purse and a mobile phone were recovered.
The total value of the recovered property was pegged at Rs 2.20 lakh.
The accused were produced before a court on March 27 and remanded to judicial custody, police said.
