DMK Chief enables release of workers

Chennai, Feb 22 (UNI) Thanks to the efforts taken by DMK President M Karuanidhi, 36 Tamils, jailed in Malaysia have been set free and deported to India.

A Press Information Bureau (PIB) release here said when it was brought to Mr Karunanidhi's notice that 36 contract workers were languishing in jail, he spoke to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs S Regupathy, who, in turn, directed officials to take immediate steps to secure the release of the workers.

After Indian immigration officials took up the matter with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Malaysia, the Indian nationals were released, it said.

While 12 detainees were deported on February nine, two were deported the next day and the final batch of 22 on February 14, the release said.

They were jailed for want of passports and documents on August 29, 2005 and the matter was brought to Mr Karunanidhi's notice on January 23, this year, the release added.

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