Youths from Garo Hills who were duped into travelling to Mumbai to work at a private company have been rescued and are waiting to return home.
South Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Shailendra Bamaniya said the victims were traced and with the help of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mumbai nine of them have been rescued and are now at Agripada police station.
“The Additional Resident Commissioner of Meghalaya House, Mumbai has been informed about the location of victims and he is making the necessary arrangements to bring them back to Meghalaya,” the SP said.
As per an FIR lodged by the ACHIK Krima Council, Southern Zone 16 youths, a majority of them from South Garo Hills were promised jobs at the Elenti Pvt Ltd Company in Mumbai by one Pijush R Marak, a resident of Pandoba Remakona, Assam.
However, these youths were being treated like slaves and not being paid any salary, the organisation said.
The SP said apart from 16 victims named in the FIR, three more were rescued. These are Salchang M Sangma, Baldogrik A Sangma and Silak D Marak.
From those named in the complaint, that include Senbar A. Sangma, Rakkam T. Sangma, Luksan Ch. Marak, Kismat Ch. Marak, Silman Ch. Marak and Tengubirth R. Marak have been rescued.
He said while Brenian N Marak is returning back to the state on his own, Jense N Marak, Chanang T. Sangma and Manrik R Marak want to continue working in Mumbai.
The SP said, the Assistant Resident Commissioner is also in contact with Chechang T Sangma who is working in Mahalakshmi Company as well as Toseng D Sangma, Tengjim B Marak, Breliant P Marak and Gutren D Sangma working in Reliance Township.
Based on enquiry one of the youths, Juli N. Marak has returned home in Rongara, the SP added.
Meanwhile, police are on the lookout for Pijush, who was accused of acting as a broker for the company.
