Families of Indians held captives in Egypt to seek High Court's help for release

Madurai, June 5 (ANI): Families of 30 men, hailing from Tamil Nadu have decided to file a petition in the Madras High Court to ensure their rescue in Egypt where they have allegedly been keep in illegal captivity and made to work as bonded labourers.

Lured by the promise of hefty salaries, these men of Thirumangalam city of Tamil Nadu's Madurai district accompanied a middleman to Egypt. ut instead of the comforts and rewards promised to them, these men have allegedly been made to compelled to work as bonded labourers for the last one year; 18 hours a day for a pittance.

Their passports had been taken away on arrival in the country and they alleged that the middlemen now ask for Rs. 100,000 for their release.

The labourers managed to send letters to their family members and gave a detailed account of their plight at their work place.

"It was on the behest of a friend that my husband decided to go out to a foreign country for job opportunity and we spent 50,000 rupees for this. But later, we came to know that he was being tortured and humiliated there. His monthly salary has been deducted and after reaching there he has sent only 11,000 rupees. After that, we have not received any salary," said Shanthi, wife of a victim.

The family members of these 30 men have now decided to approach the Madras High Court and already requested the Central Government to help them bring their family members back.

"The investigation at Indian embassy in Egypt is under process but.... we are not satisfied with that. The torture on them has only increased and we therefore plead for their early release. So we decided to file a petition in the High Court," said Muthukaumar, an advocate. (ANI)