20 workers from Bihar, UP held 'hostage' in Ethiopia

BEGUSARAI: Around 20 Indian workers, mostly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, were allegedly held hostage on the premises of a steel bar manufacturing factory in Ethiopia for over a month after they asked their employer to allow them to return home. They alleged that their passports had been taken away and denied salary.
The matter came to light after Begusarai resident Amit Kumar, one of the workers allegedly held hostage, contacted his elder brother Mukesh around 10 days back and narrated his plight.Mukesh then travelled to Delhi and approached several ministries to ensure his brother's return.
Talking over phone, Mukesh said the external affairs ministry has decided to look into the issue and has initiated a process for the safe and speedy return of the Indians.
"Over the past two days, my brother and others held hostage were allowed access to the local embassy in Addis Ababa. I am now very hopeful of my brother's safe and speedy return," Mukesh told TOI.
Mukesh said that Amit used to work as a fitter. "Two years back, he came in contact with a Maharajganj-based middleman in Uttar Pradesh who sent him for work in a steel bar manufacturing company in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia."
Amit's wife Lalita Devi said everything was fine for a while after he went there. "Amit used to send money home every month. However, he was not being paid over the last 10 months. Before leaving for Addis Ababa, Amit said he has a contract for one-and-a-half years. He was supposed to be back after his contract got over. But we came to know about his ordeal when he informed us over phone. One of the persons had also put up a post on social media, highlighting their plight," Lalita said.
Talking about other Indians, Mukesh said they mostly belong to Chhapra, Siwan, Sheohar and Gopalganj districts in Bihar besides Deoria, Maharajganj, Jaunpur and Kushinagar districts in Uttar Pradesh.
Mukesh praised Rajya Sabha member Rakesh Sinha for taking the initiative to bring back his brothers and others.