Doha – An Indian national was shot in Doha by his Qatari employer when he asked for a vacation to visit his family in India, India Today reported on Sunday.
35-year-old Haider Ali, from north-Indian state of Bihar, was shot on October 29—a day before he was scheduled to fly to India for a vacation. He was admitted with gunshot injuries at Hamad General Hospital in Qatar’s capital city of Doha.
Ali’s family members came to know about the incident through a relative in Doha, and later Indian embassy in Qatar informed the family.
However, Ali is reported to be out of danger, and the Indian embassy officials are helping the family.
According to Ali’s brother Afsar Ali, who is currently doing PhD from Kerala said, “My brother was shot point-blank by his local sponsor. My father is a heart patient and is in shock. Haider Ali had six children—five girls and a boy. His wife and the kids are in shock”.
“I first got a call from my cousin Javed who also works in Doha who told us what happened. Later, Dhiraj Kumar, ASO Community and Welfare at the Indian embassy in Qatar, also called and informed us of the incident. He assured us of all help and that he would keep us informed”, Afsar added.
Ali has worked as a welder for the past six years in Doha, and also worked at the residence of his employer. But, he was not allowed to visit home since 2018.
Family is in great shock as Ali is the sole breadwinner of the family, and it’s a great test for them as it takes months for Ali to recover.
According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of thousands of South Asian migrant workers in the construction industry in Qatar risk serious exploitation, abuse and forced labor.
