Wipro, Infosys, TCS recall staff from Bahrain over unrest

CHENNAI/BANGALORE: Many Indian IT companies have decided to evacuate their employees from Bahrain, rocked by protests for several weeks. There are around 3,50,000 Indians in Bahrain. Wipro, Infosys, TCS and other companies have a substantial presence in the country.

Anand Sankaran, senior vicepresident and business head (India & Middle East), Wipro says: "The company has 1,100 employees in the Middle East, of which 50 are in Bahrain. We’ve already brought back 25 persons living and working in sensitive areas of that country."

Many Indian companies in Bahrain have been trying to get their employees and families out over the past three days. An Infosys spokesperson said the company had less than 20 employees there and they returned to India a few days ago.

TCS had 20 people in Bahrain, including dependents, and all were brought back to India, said a spokesperson.
Minister of state for external affairs E Ahamed told STOI from New Delhi: ‘‘ There is a law-and-order situation in Bahrain and security forces are sorting it out. Indians are safe, and there is no cause for concern. I’m in touch with the Indian envoy to Bahrain, Mohan Kumar. Indians there have been asked to approach their association and its volunteers for help in an emergency.’’

Indian diplomats at the embassy told STOI that two British flights which arrived in the kingdom on Thursday had to return empty as no one was willing to leave.

Some Indian families have left the kingdom though the situation is not as serious in Libya or Yemen. Some Indian schools are closed and students have already left for India on vacation, diplomats said.

The external affairs ministry has advised Indians whose presence is not essential in Bahrain to consider leaving and avoid all non-essential travel within the country. "The situation is tense but calm. Stock up big on rations. Absolutely stay indoors. We will get through this together," Mohan Kumar tweeted.