BERHAMPUR: Families of 12 Odia labourers, who have been held captive by a company owner in Saudi Arabia, have decided to sit on indefinite fast in front of the Ganjam collectorate from Saturday. They will also meet Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is scheduled to visit Chhatrapur, on Saturday.
Although External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had directed the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia to facilitate the return of the workers to India, it has not been possible so far.
Of the 12, four are from Rangeilunda block, three from Beguniapada and one each from Patrapur, Chikiti, Hinjili, Chhatrapur and Khallikote blocks. They had gone to Saudi Arabia on November 6 last year to work in a construction firm through a Chennai-based agent.
Recently, one of the youths called up his parents and told them that the company owner took away their passports, VISA and identity cards and engaged them as labourers in the company at Riyadh. He said all of them have not been paid salary and are given one meal a day.
As no step has been taken to ensure their safe return, parents of the youths met Additional District Magistrate Saroj Kumar Mishra on Friday and informed him that they would sit on fast till their children return home.