Yusuf’s mother (right) has pleaded with EAM Sushma Swaraj and others to bring back the body of her son.
The mortal remains of Mohammed Yusuf of Amethi, who died in Saudi Arabia more than two weeks ago, will reach Lucknow from Riyadh on January 1. News World India has been running a campaign to help Yusuf’s family to trace and bring back his body.
Mohammad Yusuf’s body which arrived in Lucknow on Friday afternoon will be interred on Sunday, bringing some closure to his parents who earlier were left in the dark about the status of bringing his mortal remains home.
In a tweet addressed to News World India, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that his body will be flown to Lucknow from Riyadh on Friday afternoon:
@smritiirani @newsworldIN The mortal remains of Mohd Yusuf of Amethi will reach Lucknow from Riyadh on 1.1.16 by flt WY265 at 1410 hrs.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 31, 2015
News World India has been helping Yusuf’s family, who have been fighting to trace and bring back his body from Saudi Arabia. Yusuf used to work as a driver in Saudi Arabia. On December 10, the family received a call saying Yusuf has died. They were told that his body will be sent back in a few days. However, there has been no word since then.
Earlier, MEA has assured News World India’s of assistance to Yusuf’s family. Speaking to News World India, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said that Yusuf’s sponsor had been contacted and that Indian diplomats will make a visit to Riyadh police station to glean more information. On funding issues, Vikas Swarup had said the parents can make use of Indian community welfare fund to retrieve his body and make arrangements to visit Saudi Arabia.