HE had quit his job as a security officer in Singapore in April so he could make a lone pilgrimage to Rishikesh in northern India, the heartland for Hindu spiritual seekers.

But the Malaysian's holy quest turned ugly after he was robbed of his cash and belongings while travelling to the ashrams in the hills.

Following the robbery, 34-year-old Mr Paramasivam Krishnan from Parit Buntar, Perak, wandered for weeks in India before he managed to reach the Malaysian High Commission to seek help, reported Bernama.

To add to Mr Paramasivam's problems, his visa expired a month after arriving in India.

'I planned for a month's pilgrimage to Rishikesh and arrived in Chennai in April with RM1,000 ($420). From Haridwar to Rishikesh I did my pilgrimage on foot (about an hour's drive to the hills).

'I fell ill during this journey and someone robbed me of my pouch containing my cash.

'For the next few months I survived on small donations from generous Indians when I told them my problem. I managed to travel without tickets on Indian trains because I was wearing sadhu (holyman) attire,' Mr Paramasivam, who arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, told Bernama.

After arriving in Delhi, Mr Paramasivam was first fleeced by a taxi-driver who charged him an exorbitant 250 rupees ($8) to send him to the embassy from the New Delhi railway station, a journey of less than 10km. The regular rate is no more than 80 rupees.

Later, while spending a night in a public park in the capital before reaching the embassy for help, he claimed that he lost all his documents to thugs.

'Some people snatched my pouch with my Malaysian IC, my Singapore PR (permanent residence) documents and Malaysian passport. I'm left with nothing now, I need help to return to Malaysia.

'Datuk Tan (Malaysian High Commissioner Datuk Tan Seng Sung) gave me a pair of pants and a shirt. He allowed me to stay at his residence and provided me food.

'I tried contacting my mother and sisters but failed to reach my family. This is a terrible experience for me. I am eager to return home,' he added.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Oct 25, 2008.