Bahrain investigates freezer drawer mystery

Dubai, July 31 (UNI) Bahrain medical authorities are investigating how the bodies of workers from Tamil Nadu who perished in yesterday's blaze in a labour camp in Manama were stuffed to a freezer drawer in the mortuary.

Although permission had been granted to keep some bodies in another mortuary, they were found stuffed triggering angry outbursts from Indian community.

Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty visited the mortuary last night to sort out the problem.

A total of 196 people were evacuated from the building, 16 died on the spot and seven were taken to the hospital. More than 30 later disappeared, said news reports.

It is thought they were illegal workers, who fled fearing the police would catch them and deport.

A Bahraini official said the government would treat the case of absconding workers with compassion.

Most of the 200 labourers staying in the building hailed from Trichy, Tiruvanamallai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts.

They said they had paid Rs 120,000 to Rs 140,000 each to agents either in India or Bahrain Mr Shetty said he was shocked to see hundreds of Indians falling victim to unscrupulous agents in Bahrain and India to come to Gulf for work for a meagre salary and to live in such miserable conditions.

The workers claimed that despite being promised a salary of 100 Bahrain Dinar, they never got that money and even the meagre salary was not paid for the past four months.

UNI XC SI AT RK1512