Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh: The Pilibhit district administration has formally sent a comprehensive report to the Uttar Pradesh Home Department concerning twelve labourers from the district who are reportedly stranded in Kyrgyzstan and facing harassment, officials confirmed on Friday. The development comes amid mounting concerns from families who have repeatedly approached authorities for assistance in ensuring the safe return of their relatives.

Background of the Case

According to the District Magistrate of Pilibhit, Gyanendra Singh, the report was prepared following instructions from the Home Department, which had sought factual details about the plight of the workers. The Superintendent of Police was directed to investigate the matter thoroughly. “Information about all twelve persons stranded in Kyrgyzstan has been compiled and sent to the government so that the due process can be initiated for their safe return,” DM Singh told PTI.

Families of the stranded men have alleged that the labourers are being subjected to torture abroad and that local agents in Kyrgyzstan are demanding up to ₹2 lakh per person for their return. The workers have reportedly sent video messages to their families, appealing for help and pleading to be rescued.

Families’ Pleas and Initial Steps by Authorities

Several family members of the labourers met the district administration earlier this week to narrate the ordeal, seeking urgent intervention. The families reported that the workers—identified as Ravi Kumar, Ajay, Chandrapal, Santram, Rohit, Ramesh, Harswaroop, Shyamcharan, Sanjeev, Prempal, Ramasare, and Harishankar—had been sent to Kyrgyzstan approximately three months ago through agents operating a local recruitment agency. Each worker reportedly paid around ₹2.5 lakh and was sent on a 59-day visa under misleading contracts, according to the relatives.

The families alleged that the men were being forced to work in various cities, denied adequate food, and prevented from returning home. In addition, they claimed that the workers had suffered physical abuse, being beaten and treated “worse than animals,” and that their pleas for assistance from the local firm went unheeded.

Police Investigation Underway

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav confirmed that the matter has been assigned to Circle Officer (CO) City Deepak Chaturvedi for a thorough investigation. He stated that the families have submitted written complaints alleging that a local firm, operating from a city colony, along with its representatives, may have played a role in sending the men abroad under false promises.

“The families’ written complaints, along with the video appeals of the labourers, have been included in the ongoing investigation,” SP Yadav said. Officials emphasized that all twelve workers have expressed a strong desire to return to India as soon as possible, and the administration is coordinating with the state government to initiate necessary steps for their repatriation.

Government’s Next Steps

The report submitted by the Pilibhit administration is expected to assist the Uttar Pradesh government in taking official action for the workers’ safe return. This may include coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, and relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure the swift repatriation of the stranded labourers.

Officials have indicated that the case highlights the growing challenges associated with overseas employment and recruitment scams, in which workers are lured with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, only to face exploitation, harassment, and abuse. Authorities are now assessing the recruitment agency’s operations in Pilibhit to determine whether legal action can be taken against those responsible for facilitating the overseas deployment under misleading terms.

Humanitarian Concerns

The situation has triggered widespread concern among relatives and residents of Pilibhit, who fear for the safety and well-being of the stranded workers. In their video appeals, the labourers reportedly expressed desperation and urgency, highlighting the physical and psychological toll of their forced conditions abroad.

“This is a deeply concerning case,” DM Singh said. “The workers are our citizens, and the administration is committed to ensuring that they are brought back safely. The report we sent to the Home Department contains all factual details and is intended to trigger the appropriate intervention from the state and central authorities.”

Broader Implications

This incident underscores the risks associated with overseas employment schemes facilitated by private recruitment agents. Experts note that workers, often from small towns and rural districts, are vulnerable to exploitation, paying high sums upfront and receiving misleading contracts that restrict their rights and movement once abroad.

The Pilibhit case has drawn attention to the urgent need for stringent regulations and oversight of recruitment agencies, along with effective mechanisms for grievance redressal for workers sent overseas. Authorities are expected to follow up on the report by engaging the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions abroad to ensure that similar situations do not recur.

As the investigation proceeds, officials have assured that families will be kept informed of all developments and that every possible step will be taken to secure the safe and speedy return of the twelve stranded labourers.