Running away from employers in Gulf countries, because of harassment, is turning out to be a curse for immigrants from Telangana.
Car driver D. Madhusudhan’s case is a classic example. A graduate in science, the 25-year-old from Chilvakodur of Gollapalli mandal in Jagitial district went to Riyadh for work last year.
Within a few months, he realised that he was being underpaid. Even working conditions were miserable. Unaware of the option that he could seek guidance from the Indian embassy there for another job, Madhusudhan ran away from the employer.
He took shelter with his relative who was working in Riyadh.
As his passport and other travel documents were taken by the employer at the time of joining work, he approached Indian embassy and secured out-pass (a permit given to fly back to India) by explaining his case.
“On learning about this, the employer lodged a false complaint with the police in Riyadh alleging that Madhusudhan stole his car,” the immigrant's brother-in-law Venkatesh said on Saturday.
The police summoned Madhusudhan and made it clear to him that he could not fly with a theft case pending against him.
Now, he cannot come back and has to face the false case in Riyadh. “It is not just Madhusudhan. Nearly, 20 helpless immigrants from different districts of Telangana are caught in similar legal cobwebs with false complaints,” Kadarla Ranjith, a social activist, said.
Chakali Sailoo of Nizamabad, in a video clip sent to his friends, appealed to the Telangana Government to save him and others who were stuck in Riyadh because of harassment by employers.
Accompanied by some other immigrants, Sailoo pleaded with the officials to inquire into their plight and help them reunite with their families.
Madhusudhan is a graduate and knows at least how to communicate with others. “But others are semi-literate and worked as shepherds or guards. They are not even sure whom to contact,” Mr. Ranjit said.
The social activist said other immigrants were charged with stealing sheep or cattle, which suggested that the complaints were false.
