Many persons from Kerala go to middle-east with promises of jobs with the help of middlemen, which lays them open to trafficking.
Three Indian men, who were physically tortured by their employer in Saudi Arabia, returned to India early morning today after being rescued from a brick factory in Abha.
A horrifying video, shared by the three men with their families to seek help, showed their employer chasing and beating them with a wooden club. The video evoked strong reactions in Kerala.
Abhishek, Vimal and Baiju, who are from Haripad town in north Kerala, were duped by a local job agent who allegedly promised them jobs in Yemen as electricians. They were instead taken to Abha in Saudi Arabia, where they were forced to work in a brick manufacturing company.
A case has been registered against the agent.
"I went there with many dreams... now I don't know what I will do... need money to build a house, loans to be paid off," said 21-year-old Abhishek, a trained electrician who was cheated on the pretext of job and was forced to work in a brick factory.
It's the same story for 29-year-old Baiju, a pumber and 30-year-old Vimal.
In an emotional reunion at Trivandrum airport, Vimal's mother Ommanna K said: "Thank you for bringing back my son. I pray for a long life and health for him."
Foreign Minister
Sushma Swaraj had assured that the issue would be taken up with the authorities and the men will be back home soon.
"We reported this to Saudi Police. We are in touch with Indian workers. They will be back in India within a week," she had tweeted.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had also assured their return within two days.
Many from Kerala go to Middle-East with promises of jobs with the help of middlemen, which lays them open to trafficking.