Kolkata: Twelve residents of Bengal, who had travelled to Iran for a job of eight months, have sought the intervention of the Centre as well as the state administration after they were allegedly duped and the company that employed them refused to hand over their passports.
The family of those who are stuck in Iran complained of illegal imprisonment in writing to the office of the Prime Minister as well as the Union Minister of External Affairs at the central level and to the Chief Minister's office (CMO ) and state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as well as the Consulate General of Iran based in Delhi urging them to take up the matter on Monday.
It may be mentioned that the Iranian company had paid salary to the victims for the first three months and closed down afte that.
They also allegedly seized the passports of the victims and demanded Rs 3.5 lakh for handing over the same.
The victims' parents got in touch with the National Anti-Trafficking Committee which has its office at Kasba and through it approached the various forums seeking assistance.
The 12 persons hail from various parts of the state including Murshidabad, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East Burdwan and are associated with jewellery work.
"They have sent a video and has complained of illegal confinement for the last three months. They are not being given proper food and are helpless with the seizure of their passports. We do not want any money from the company in Iran. We only want our family members to be rescued as early as possible," a family member of one of the
victims said.
He further alleged that the health condition of all the victims have deteriorated because of lack of food.