The Pilibhit district administration in Uttar Pradesh has forwarded a detailed, factual report to the UP Home Department concerning the case of 12 labourers from the district who are reportedly stranded, facing torture, and being harassed in Kyrgyzstan.
District Magistrate Gyanendra Singh confirmed on Friday that the report was compiled after the Home Department sought precise details and directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) to conduct a thorough probe.
“Information about all 12 persons stranded in Kyrgyzstan has been compiled and sent to the government so that the due process can be initiated for their safe return,” the DM told PTI.
Allegations of Torture and Extortion
Families of the stranded men have been frequently approaching police and administrative officials for help, recently meeting with DM Singh and SP Abhishek Yadav to narrate their ordeal. Their core allegations include:
- Torture and Abuse: The families allege the workers are being tortured abroad, claiming the men are being beaten and treated “worse than animals.”
- Extortion: Local agents are reportedly demanding up to ₹2 lakh per worker from the families for their return to India.
- Forced Labour: The men are being forced to work in different cities, denied proper food, and are being prevented from returning home.
- Appeals for Help: The labourers have been desperately sending video messages to their families, appealing for immediate rescue.
The Recruitment Scam
The relatives identified the 12 stranded workers as: Ravi Kumar, Ajay, Chandrapal, Santram, Rohit, Ramesh, Harswaroop, Shyamcharan, Sanjeev, Prempal, Ramasare, and Harishankar.
They alleged that the workers were sent to Kyrgyzstan nearly three months ago by agents running a local recruitment agency operating from a city colony.
- Each worker reportedly paid about ₹2.5 lakh to the agency.
- They were sent on a short 59-day visa with what relatives claim were “misleading contracts.”
SP Yadav confirmed that a formal investigation has been assigned to CO City Deepak Chaturvedi. The families submitted written complaints alleging that the local recruitment firm and its representatives were involved in sending the workers abroad under false promises. Officials confirmed that all 12 workers wish to return to India immediately, and their video appeals have been included as part of the evidence in the probe.
The District Magistrate anticipates that the administration’s detailed report will allow the state government to quickly initiate the necessary steps for the safe repatriation of the labourers.