Mangaluru : Eleven persons from Dakshina Kannada, who were deported from Kuwait last month for performing Satyanarayana puja, are hoping to return.

Among them is Santosh Kumar Rai, a resident of Mangaluru who had been employed as painting supervisor in Kuwait Oil Company. Claiming that there was no case against them, he said: “We are hoping that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s word prevails and we are able to return to work in Kuwait.”

Mr. Santosh Kumar and ten others were deported for performing the puja in the cellar of a building in Kuwait on October 16. Following seven days of questioning by the Kuwait State Security Department at an undisclosed location and a stay at the deportation jail, they were sent back to India on November 17.

“We need to return as we left behind all our savings. Each one of us has put in more than 10 years of service there,” said Satish K. Beluvai, who worked at Damac, a catering firm in Kuwait. “If we do not return, we will lose all our savings,” he said.

Ashok Salian, who was employed as a mechanical foreman, said he left behind his new car and other valuable articles.

Purushottam Kukyan, who was working in Damac, claimed that so far they had not been informed of the allegation made about the puja. The annual ritual was conducted by the Navachetana Welfare Association after informing the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.

Unlike in the past, when invites were sent, this year the association informed the public about the event on WhatsApp and Facebook. As many as 170 people attended the puja.

“We suspect somebody complained of black magic, religious preaching, and anti-national activity at the event,” Mr. Kukyan said.

He said officials questioned nine members of the association and two others about the event.

“We were moved to deportation jail where our biometrics was taken before sending us back to India.” Mr. Kukyan said, adding that the External Affairs Minister had assured of arranging their return to Kuwait.