Balugaon: An Oriya youth has reportedly gone missing in Saudi Arabia for the last 22 days, according to a complaint lodged by the youth’s parents back home in Kolathadiha village under Balugaon police limits in Khurda district.
Identified as Sesan Nayak (22), the youth went to Saudi in August to work as a waiter. His family said he called them 22 days back to tell them he was being tortured by his employer and that he wanted to come back but his passport had been confiscated. They have not heard from him since, Sesan’s father Surendra said in a complaint to Balugaon police.
Besides the police, the Nayaks also approached the district administration and the labour department pleading with them to help bring Sesan back from Saudi Arabia.
Acting on the complaint, police swung into action and identified two agents who sold Sesan a dream of making it big in Saudi. The agents were identified as Shatrughan Sahu of Bhagatipur Nuagaon and Sanjay Sahu of Bishnudiha. Both of them were arrested.
Police said Sesan was a graduate and was applying for government jobs. Meanwhile, he came in contact with the accused who lured him with dreams of high wages in Saudi. They asked for a deposit of Rs 65,000 in order to procure a passport and a visa for Sesan.
Later, they took him and handed him over to a consultancy called Sound Line Manab Sambal in Mumbai. The consultancy later sent Sesan to work in Saudi as a waiter. However, things turned sour after Sesan reached Saudi.
He was made to work 14 hours a day and was deprived of proper food. The hotel authorities seized his passport to prevent him from fleeing the place. Under severe work pressure, Nayak took ill soon after. He even requested that his services be terminated and that he be allowed to return home.
However, the company demanded a deposit of Rs 1.20 lakh to return his passport. Availing no option, Nayak narrated his ordeal to his parents who were taken aback as they were unable to arrange such a huge sum. Meanwhile, other Oriya workers called Surendra claiming no clue was found of Sesan’s whereabouts.
When contacted, company authorities claimed Sesan fled the hotel and said they would not entertain further phone calls. The matter came to light after Surendra lodged a written complaint with Banpur police and Balugaon assistant labour officer.
Police registered a case and arrested Sanjay and Shatrughan after they failed to provide satisfactory answers. They were later produced in court. PNN
