A 32-year old man from Tripura has been rescued from his employers in Saudi Arabia following intervention by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, state BJP in-charge Sunil Deodhar said today.
Gopal Das, a resident of Barapathari village in South Tripura district, had gone to Saudi Arabia in search of a job three years ago. He got a job as a driver but was made to slave for about 22 hours a day working also as a household and agricultural farm worker for his employer.
To add to his woes Das was not given any salary by his employer, who also tortured him physically. He, however, could not inform the matter to his family members as he was put under constant surveillance.
Deodhar said Das' employer had sacked him and drove out of his house on August 29. He managed to get a shelter in a garage and informed the matter to his wife Bhabita.
Bhabita had contacted a person Russel Sinha in her neighbourhood, who is an expert in handling social media and spoke to Gopal. He asked the man to send a video of his statement.
Russel tweeted the video to Swaraj on August 31 and the external affairs minister promptly directed the Indian consulate in Jeddah to rescue Gopal, Deodhar said.
Gopal returned here last night and left for his ancestral house at Barapathari in South Tripura district. He was received at the Agartala airport by BJP state president Biplab Deb, Deodhar, Russel and BJP MLA Sudip Roy Burman.
