As many as nine migrant workers who had gone to Malaysia two months ago in search of jobs have landed in trouble as they did not carry proper employment visa.
After landing in Kuala Lumpur, they realised that they were cheated by visa agents Sathyam and Pothanna from Nizamabad and Khanapur Srinivas who lives in Malaysia. They were promised stable jobs in a company with a salary of not less than ₹30,000 per month. The victims Puranam Vinodkumar, Bolli Kamalakar, Esha Venkat and six others paid ₹60,000 to ₹80,000 to get job visa. The workers arranged the money by taking loans from money lenders at very high interest and also selling gold ornaments of their family members. On landing in Kuala Lumpur, agent Khanapur Srinivas took possession of their passports.
Only Vinodkumar of Koratpally in Dichpally mandal and Kamalakar of Kolipak in Jakranpally mandal are having their passports in their possession. Passports of the rest are with Srinivas. “Ms. Divya, an Indian embassy official in Kuala Lumpur asked us to leave the country, otherwise we will be facing difficulties as per Malaysian laws,” said Kamalakar over phone. Talking to the The Hindu, he said that they had no money, proper accommodation and sufficient food ever since they landed in the country. “We even stayed in a forest area some 300 kilometres from the city for 20 days.
“We are being shifted from one place to another every 10 to 15 days in the name of work. Employers are extracting 12-hour work from us”, said Kamalakar. “We have never seen our salary as it is being collected by middleman Srinivas. Pothanna alone sent six persons to Malaysia. We all belong to different villages in Nizamabad, Jagityal and Nirmal districts. We all want to return to India. Otherwise, we have no other alternative, but to end life,” said Venkat.
Kamalakar’s family have sent ₹30,000 since March for his survival, Gulf Telangana Cultural and Welfare Association president Patkuri Basanth Reddy said.