The Hindu : New Delhi News : Legal aid for 6 Indians convicted by Sharjah court

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Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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Legal aid for 6 Indians convicted by Sharjah court

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has issued instructions to provide legal assistance to the six Indian nationals from Andhra Pradesh who have been convicted by a Sharjah court.

This was disclosed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on Sunday after meeting Mr. Mukherjee. The six Indians -- Dandagula Odde Muthyam, Odde Yelliah Ramulu, Edagotti Buthanna Chinna Ganga Ram, Odde Gangaram Thimmanna, Odde Rajama Narasaiah and B.Gangadhar Sayanna -- have been charged with the murder of another native of Andhra Pradesh and theft of cables from a Sharjah-based company.

While Dandagula Odde Muthyam and Odde Yelliah Ramulu have been awarded capital punishment, the remaining four have been sentenced to three -year imprisonment followed by deportation. Till date, they have been represented by an Indian lawyer who has been offering assistance free of cost. As for the State’s request that the External Affairs Ministry take action against recruiting agencies which sent the unsuspecting job-seekers to the Gulf without proper documents, Mr. Mukherjee said the matter would be referred to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

Dr. Reddy also met Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and secured from him an assurance for immediate allocation of 70 MW of power from Southern Grid’s unallocated quota to tide over the power shortage facing the State.

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