58 labourers in Iraq may return home soon

SURAT: The 58 labourers from Navsari, who are being held hostage in Iraq for the past several months, are likely to return home soon. Police action on local agents and the pressure created by the family members for their release seem to have worked, police informed.
The family members of the labourers had met Bilimora police and sought action against the agents, who had come to recruit a fresh batch of labourers on Sunday.They sought release of their relatives who were being held hostage in Iraq. Police registered a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust on Monday against Allarakhu Shaikh, Punabhai, Jayanti, Dhiru Patel and Dipen Vadher of Weather Travels Consultant of Mumbai. Shaikh was arrested on Wednesday and produced before a local court, which remanded him in police custody till Saturday. The other accused are yet to be arrested even as the investigation in the case has been handed over to local crime branch in Navsari.
"We have begun investigation in the case. Search has been launched for other accused. We were informed by the family members of the labourers that they are likely to return home soon. A few of them had contacted them from Iraq," said C J Goswami, police inspector, local crime branch, Navsari.
A total of 65 labourers from the villages of Navsari had gone to Iraq in September 2013. However, seven of them had returned recently. They described the pitiable conditions the remaining 58 labourers were in. They told the family members of those in Iraq that the labourers were not paid their salaries for the past three months and were being kept locked in rooms.
The issue was brought to the notice of Gujarat government, which in turn alerted the Union ministry of external affairs.