Kollam: A young man from Kollam has been stranded in Iran for the past 11 months after his passport and other travel documents were not returned, preventing him from returning home. Akshay Harish, a resident of Praakulam in Kollam, has been living in Iran since then. Akshay, who worked as a watchkeeper on a ship, faced this crisis when his passport, handed over for inspection at a Pakistani port, was not returned. He is now seeking intervention from Indian authorities to recover his documents and facilitate his return.
Akshay was employed aboard the ship 'Pam Marine' operated by Ali Shipping Company. When the ship arrived at a Pakistani port, his passport and other travel documents were handed over to the relevant authorities for routine checks. Akshay had expected the documents to be returned to the ship's captain after verification. However, when the vessel reached Iran and preparations for his return journey began, he was informed that the captain did not have the passport or any other documents, rendering Akshay’s return uncertain.
There is no clear information about the whereabouts of the passport, and delays in recovering the documents have worsened his predicament. His family is deeply worried about his extended stay abroad. Akshay says that he was taken overseas by the agent under the pretext that he had secured a job in Dubai. Yet after starting his job, most voyages were to Iran, which differed from the expected working conditions.
Akshay explains that the passport went missing during the second ship voyage, which involved transporting rice from Pakistan. Although the documents were handed over for inspection at the port, their subsequent whereabouts remain unclear. Upon inquiry with the ship captain regarding the passport, Akshay was told that the company had checked whether the documents remained in Pakistan but was informed that the passport could not be found there either.
The ongoing conflict situation in the region temporarily disrupted shipping services, which were restored months later. Even after the return to normal operations, the issue with the travel documents persists, preventing Akshay from traveling home. Akshay also revealed that six Myanmar citizens who worked alongside him encountered similar document problems. However, with intervention by the Myanmar Embassy, they received the necessary papers and were able to return home.
He expresses great mental distress over being unable to return while others in similar circumstances managed to do so. Akshay is hopeful for a resolution through urgent intervention by the Indian Embassy and relevant central government departments.
Clarification is needed on whether the passport was lost, remains with the inspecting authorities, or if an error occurred during document transfer. In addition to locating the current status of the documents, possibilities to issue alternative travel papers for his return must also be explored.
Following the incident coming to light, Kollam MLA and Minister Bindu Krishna spoke with Akshay on the phone to understand the difficulties he faces and the situation regarding the lost passport. Minister Bindu Krishna has written to the Chief Minister, the Union Minister of External Affairs, Kerala’s Special Representative in Delhi, and the Indian Embassy in Iran, urging immediate action to ensure Akshay’s safe return.
The letter calls for communication with authorities in the involved countries to recover the passport and other documents submitted for inspection at the Pakistani port and requests swift resolution of the matter. If the documents cannot be located, steps should be taken with assistance from the Indian Embassy to provide emergency travel papers and guarantee Akshay’s repatriation. Cooperation from the shipping company and port authorities is crucial.
After nearly 11 months of uncertainty, Akshay hopes for a swift end to his ordeal and to be able to return home soon. His family demands effective intervention from the central and state governments along with the Indian diplomatic network to ensure his safety and journey back. Akshay and his family continue to await further action from the concerned authorities.
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Original Malayalam report: Malayalam Daily News
