CM moves Centre for return of migrants

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Naveen requested Vayalar Ravi, to come to the rescue of the 24 Oriya migrant workers, forcibly detained in South Africa...

BHUBANESWAR: The death of one of the 24 Oriya migrant workers, forcibly detained in South Africa by a private contractor, has prompted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to seek Centre's intervention for their early release. In a letter on Thursday, Naveen requested Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Affairs, to come to the rescue of the workers. "I request you to kindly look into the matter in the interest of the victimised workmen and instruct the Indian embassy in South Africa to coordinate with the South African Government to take effective steps for the safe release of the workmen," Naveen wrote.
After the death of labourer Narendra Mallick of Dharapur village in Jajpur district, the State Government informed the Protector General of Immigration with a request to contact the South African embassy and initiate steps for the return of the labourers with settlement of dues.Mallick was one of the 24 labourers who went to South Africa in search of greener pastures on May 4. His body reached home on June 27.

The labourers belong to Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts. They were taken to South Africa with the help of Rankanidhi Bhuina, a local agent for V D Prasad Rao, a mechanical and civil contractor from Hyderabad and Promac Engineering Industries Limited, Bangalore.

Their condition is reportedly bad. Along with them, another 19 migrants from West Bengal and nine from Bihar have been forcibly detained.