Languishing Tripura youths return from Malaysia

Agartala, Mar 27 (UNI) Ten Tripura youths returned home yesterday after languishing in Malaysia for nearly eight months and lodged complaints against a local agent who had promised them jobs abroad.

The returnees, residents of three localities of two border sub-divisions, had gone to Malaysia with the help of one Balai Shil last August by paying Rs 1.10 lakh each.

Mr Shil had allegedly promised them to provide job of Rs 10,000 per month besides, free food and lodging in Malaysia. But they worked under various agents in different categories, sometimes even as factory porters.

''But that too was not regular and we did not get work for more than 15 days a month,'' said Ajoy Deb, one of the youths, and alleged that they had received 32 Ringgit per month but had to pay 100 Ringgit as levy to the Malaysian Government.

He stated that they were subjected to brutal punishment as they refused to work on such nominal salaries. ''But as we continuously protested, Balai took us to an unknown place and is absconding,'' he said.

Finally, they contacted the Indian High Commission and retuned home yesterday.

Meanwhile, Employment and Manpower Commissioner of Tripura B M Sinha told the media here that the authority had already taken step to set up an Overseas Bureau in the state to contain illegal migration.

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