Mysterious Deaths of Indians in the Gulf continue

keralamonitor.com

Dubai: Stories about mysterious death and disappearance of workers are very common in all the Gulf countries. A 23-year-old Indian garment factory worker was found hanging in his room in Tubli, Bahrain. Guddeddi Nagaraju from Hyderabad was working as a tailor with the Zinj Garment Factory in Tubli. According to media reports, the worker arrived for work in the morning, but failed to return after going for a coffee-break in his room in the factory compound! Another Indian garment factory worker died of a 'heart attack in his sleep', on New Year's Day. Pradeep Mangalathudi, 29, was employed by Lifestyle Garments in Salmabad.

According to the Indian Ambassador in one of the Gulf countries, a Rajasthani worker was found dead in a hanging position with both his hands tied. The worker who had a long standing dispute with his Arab sponsor was apparently killed, but the post mortem report suggested that he committed suicide. 'I am sure that it is a clear case of murder, but when the hospital authorities and police say that the worked committed suicide, what can you do," says the Indian Ambassador. According to him, two Rajastani workers were illegally brought from the UAE to work in a neighbouring Gulf country by an Arab sponsor, who never paid for their work or allowed them to leave. The second Rajasthani worker who saw the deadbody approached the Indian Embassy saying that his friend had been murdered.

The police mortuary of the same Gulf country is almost full of expatriate deadbodies. Even though some of the deaths are clear cases of murders, there is a tendency to avoid more investigation and certify that the expatriate worker committed suicide. In such cases, the local employer who is responsible for paying compensation and other service benefits, will save lot of money if the death is attributed to suicide. About fifty Indian housemaids are said to be committing suicide every year in a Gulf country. It is high time that the Indian Government authorities look into the matter.