Bhubaneswar: As many as 14 persons from Ganjam district who had gone to Saudi Arabia in search of work are allegedly being tortured and are stranded in the gulf country.
According to sources, two agents who are yet to be identified lured the labourers to the Middle East country promising them lucrative jobs. However, the labourers alleged that they are not being paid and even denied of basic necessities like two meals a day. They also alleged that they are being forced to work 12 hours a day.
The matter came to light after the family members of the labourers found about their plight from a video.
Lodging a complaint, the families of the labourers have urged the district administration to take steps to ensure safe return of the labourers.
Kandha Mallick, relative of a labourer said they are concerned after coming to know about the incident. We don’t need anything else but the safe return of our family member.
On the other hand, the administration has assured to take all possible steps to ensure that the labourers return to their families safely. Besides it has also urged the people to know all the details of any company before going for an employment.
Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said “We will contact the foreign embassy within a day or two and find out whether the stranded labourers need rescue or any other form of assistance.”