Chennai: A man from Sudan has been reunited with his family, all thanks to the kind-hearted Chennai city police. The policemen pooled in and collected Rs 70,000 to buy him plane tickets to reach home.

27-year-old Mohammed Al Mustafa came to Tamil Nadu to pursue higher studies. He had joined a three-year course at a college in Nagapattinam.

After returning to complete a few backlogs, Mustafa hoped of finding a job in Chennai. However he couldn’t complete his course and in return, couldn't land a job. 

Mustafa had made Marina Beach his home where he spent most days and nights. He had even gotten himself into a brawl with a few locals which landed him in jail for about four months, during which his Visa expired. 

The Sudan national would often do odd jobs in an around Marina to make a living. 

Mustafa said, “After four months of imprisonment, I came out of prison and continued to make the Marina beach my home. I had no money to pay penalty for overstay or return to my country. I was not able to go back to

Nagapattinam to continue my course. I was doing odd jobs in shops and mosques to run my life here.”

The Marina Police spotted him on the beach and took him to the police station. Upon inquiring, they learnt about his imprisonment and his plight.

They then passed on the information to city police commissioner AK Viswanathan. The police followed the instructions from the commissioner and made arrangements for Mustafa’s return. 

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office readily approved the exit and the cops pooled in for the air tickets.

Mustafa was happy to return home to his family and plans on taking up farming as his profession.