Three Indian Workers Beaten up by Saudi Employer

Droves of Keralites travel to Saudi Arabia every year and often end up working in unbearable conditions.

An Indian worker in Jeddah city in Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Reuters)

Droves of Keralites travel to Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia every year, with stars in their eyes, in search of better job opportunities and higher remuneration. But the situation was different for three people from Kerala. A distressing video showing their plight was circulated on Whatsapp, where a Saudi employer, typically garbed in an all-white dress, was seen beating the men with a wooden plank as if herding a group of animals into an enclosure.

The video was taken by one of the men through the camera of his phone, which was kept hidden in his shirt pocket.

Lies and Torture

The three men got conned by a placement agency, which gave false job promises and sent them to Saudi Arabia, where they were allegedly attacked by their employer.

B Vimal Kumar (30) and Abhilash Gopi (30) from Muttom near Haripad along with Byju Babu (26) from Arattupuzha were sent to Abha in Saudi Arabia to work as mechanics and electricians.

However, upon reaching, they were forced to work in brick manufacturing units and were kept without food and accommodation.

They are currently staying in the shop of a Keralite, hiding from their sponsor. Shamzad calls and threatens to kill them. Vimal is 30 years old and has a 2-year-old child. He was a geyser mechanic. His financial situation was not good. That is why he went, otherwise, I would not have let him go.

<b>Omana, Vimal Kumar’s Mother</b>

Police Involvement

The family members of the victims have approached the Kayamkulam police for help. Kayamkulam circle inspector, KS Udayabhanu said, KN Vinod Kumar, an officer stationed at the Arattupuzha police station, has been dismissed for his alleged involvement in the incident.

The men were promised a salary of Rs 45,000 and had paid Rs 1 lakh for the air tickets and visa.

Abhilash is just 21years old. He wanted to look after us well, so he went there. Now he wants to escape from there. Shamzad is asking for 10,000 riyals to return his passport.

<b>Anju, Abhilash’s Sister</b>