Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government has
sought the Centre's intervention to help nearly 4,000 Indians,
a majority of whom are Malayalees, reportedly working in
"miserable" conditions in US military camps in Afghanistan.
Some of those purportedly stranded in the camps told
Malayalam television channels today over phone that there
could be nearly 4,000 Indians in the US military camps in
Afghanistan.
The workers alleged they were cheated by a Chennai-based
recruiting agency which first took them to Gulf countries and
from there to Afghanistan.
"We are living here in miserable conditions. We are
forced to do all sorts of jobs. If we run away from the camps,
we will end up in the hands of militants," one worker said.
He claimed though some of them informed the Indian
Embassy in Afghanistan about their plight, there has been no
action so far.
The workers alleged recruits were first taken to Dubai
and Kuwait on visit visas and then sent to camps in
Afghanistan.
Reacting to the report, state Minister for Non Resident
Keralites Affairs K C Joseph said the government viewed the
matter seriously and wanted the Central government's
intervention to save the Indians.
"Chief Minister Minister Oommen Chandy will be writing to
External Affairs Minister and Non-resident Indians Affairs
Minister to ascertain the details and intervene in the
matter," Joseph said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 18:17