Leicester family's fears for failed asylum seeker shot in Tanzania
A man said his brother-in-law is fighting for his life after a vicious acid attack on him and his wife in Tanzania – less than a year after he was refused asylum in the UK.
Panjak Rana, 43, from Belgrave, Leicester, said his brother-in-law Arvind Asawla was shot in the face by political extremists, who also shot his pregnant wife Bimal in the stomach before pouring acid on her face.
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Dharmista Rana with husband Pankaj Rana, left, and brother-in-law Rohit. Dharmista has a picture of her brother
Mr Rana said the attack happened in the street near their home in Zanzibar last Wednesday and he thinks it was carried out by Muslim fundamentalists allegedly linked to the opposition government.
Mr Asawla came to Leicester using a counterfeit Portuguese passport in 2003.
After four months of illegally working in a factory in the city, he was caught by border officials when he applied for a National Insurance number.
He was jailed for six months.
Despite claiming he would be killed if he returned to Zanzibar, his asylum applications were rejected, and he was deported last April.
Brother-in-law Mr Rana, 43, said: "We feel so helpless and have no idea what to do.
"They are such kind and loving people. Arvind tried to tell the Border Agency that this would happen to him.
"Over there, things are terrible.
"He knew his life was in danger if he went back.
"This was a mistake by the Border Agency – they should have listened to him when he told him what it was like."
In shocking pictures sent to the Rana family by nurses caring for their family in Tanzania, Mr and Mrs Asawla's wounds and burns can be clearly seen.
They have no idea if their unborn child survived the bullet.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa.
A statement on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website said: "There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
"The Islamic terrorist group Al-Shabaab, while based in Somalia, poses a threat across the East Africa region."
Mr Rana is appealing to the Home Office to grant his brother-in-law, his wife and their two teenage daughters asylum in the UK.
Mr Asawla was born in India, who will not provide him with a passport because he moved to Tanzania when he was very young.
The UK will not give him a British passport because he said Tanzania has accepted him as a national, and Tanzanian officials have refused to grant him a travel document.
He added: "I know it was illegal for him to come to the UK, but what choice did he have? He wanted to make a better life for him and his family and work hard.
"They made a mistake turning him away, and now he is trapped. It is terrible. We just want to help, but we do not know what to do."
The Home Office, which oversees the Border Agency, did not provide a comment.
36 Comments
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by JayBe11
Monday, January 23 2012, 8:38PM
“@ Georgey2011
Glad to hear you're doing well. I hope it continues.”
by sydney11
Monday, January 23 2012, 6:29PM
“Its not dissimlar to the idea of capping benefits - its the first senesible thing I have heard for a long time!”
by bimple
Monday, January 23 2012, 11:13AM
“boreoffboris, you seem confused. Can I remind you what you said yesterday:
"a handout's a handout in my book. Whatever title you put on it ,it still comes out of the country's pocket"
So are you now saying that a handout ISN'T a handout in your book (even if it comes out of the country's pocket) IF you have paid in to the system (the "country's pocket" to use your term)?
So what is the cut off point then? At what point does a handout cease to be a handout? After you've paid in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years? If an asylum seeker is granted asylum, works for 30 years, and then claims benefits are THEY getting a handout? Your rules seem so complicated.
Your statement seemed very absolute and definitive, yet you now seem to be backtracking.”
by boreoffboris
Sunday, January 22 2012, 11:13PM
“The article is about Asylum seekers isnt it who presumably havent paid a jot? Nice try bimple lol”
by bimple
Sunday, January 22 2012, 10:28PM
“So someone who has worked all their life and paid NI into the system and who goes into hospital for treatment is getting a "handout" are they? What nice terminology.”
by boreoffboris
Sunday, January 22 2012, 9:18PM
“a handout's a handout in my book. Whatever title you put on it ,it still comes out of the country's pocket.You are splitting hairs but hey if it makes you feel better I bow to your greater intelligence.There, now thats sorted out we can go back to watching tele.”
by bimple
Sunday, January 22 2012, 8:44PM
“I'm not splitting hairs. Welfare benefits are a specific and clearly defined set of benefit payments with strict rules. It isn't just a general term applied to any kind of state assistance!”
by boreoffboris
Sunday, January 22 2012, 8:31PM
“I really think you are splitting hairs bimp and the comment "what part of that do you not understand? Surely you wouldnt want anyone to think you were talking down to me. But hey-ho everyones entitled to their own opinion”
by bimple
Sunday, January 22 2012, 8:04PM
“"Ithink you will find asylum seekers get emergency accomodation from UKBA"
I never said they didn't. I said they don't get council housing. They get put up in private accomodation paid for by central Government.
"can apply for asylum support"
Again, I never said that they couldn't. In fact I specifically mentioned that they get on average £5 per day from central Government.
"get free nhs services"
Yep, again, I never said that they didn't.
None of the above are welfare benefits. So, to restate, asylum seekers are not allowed to claim benefits. What part of that do you not understand?
"I pay for my prescriptions,if you don't isnt that classed as a benefit?"
No.”
by boreoffboris
Sunday, January 22 2012, 7:50PM
“@bimple you need to read the shelter pdf entitled asylum seekers and refugees.Ithink you will find asylum seekers get emergency accomodation from UKBA,can apply for asylum support,get free nhs services ...........and more.So, quite where you get the " asylum seekers do NOT get benefits" is beyond me...in capital letters too.I pay for my prescriptions,if you don't isnt that classed as a benefit?”