Two detained Indian students in Saudi to be free soon

DUBAI: Two Indian students, who were detained by police in Jeddah on the charges of alleged manhandling and stone pelting on policemen during celebrations to mark India's independence, are likely to be freed soon.

Thirty one Pakistani and Indian students were detained after they allegedly tried to assault police which asked the former to stop their independence Day celebrations that were reportedly causing traffic problems and unruliness.

"Two Indian students will be released within a few days," said Naseem Akhtar, an Indian lecturer teaching at King Abdul Aziz University.

Akhtar said that only four Indian students were detained for bad behaviour and probably for hoisting or having tricolor flags in their possession on the occasion of India's Independence Day on August 15.

The students' release follows the judgment given by a Jeddah court, which heard the cases of students detained by the police in mid-August.

Eighteen Pakistani students, who are still languishing in police custody, are also seeking immediate relief from the court, Arab News reported.

"Many students are yet to be released since their arrests on August 14-15," said the report.