BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday sought intervention of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for rescue of five Odia youths illegally detained in Oman.
In a letter to Sushma, Pradhan said five youths from Balugaon in Khurda district and Krushnaprasad in Puri district were sent to Oman through Planet Consultancy, a placement agency based in Kerala, with the promise of better salary package.
Each of the youths had paid Rs 70,000 to one Anil Swain following assurance of a job with better salary. The youths are Dilip Sahu, Papu Singh, Manas Nayak and Sarat Palei.
After reaching Oman, they were forced to work in sub-human conditions. They were brutally tortured by their employer when they asked for their salary after two months of work, Pradhan said.
Though the distressed youths have reported their agony to their family members, who in turn contacted the local authorities concerned for their safe return, repatriation of the youths is still awaited.
“I request you for your personal intervention for early repatriation of the innocent youths on humanitarian grounds and ensure that these poor labourers are paid their dues by the placement agency,” the letter said.