Uncertainty hangs over 1,200 Indian workers’ fate in Angola

While we celebrate 'Mother’s Day' today and pay our gratitude to mothers and motherhood, there are around 1,200 Indian sons stranded in Sumbe, Angola. For last four days, they have been left in the lurch to fend for themselves against the might of Angolan authorities. Many of these labourers, who are in desperate need of help are the sole breadwinners for their mothers and families.

After a three-day ordeal, the company started providing food to the workers from Saturday morning. Four more workers were arrested by the police, taking the tally of total number of arrested labourers to 69 so far.

Surprisingly, while it is being claimed that the Indian Embassy in Angola is working to resolve the issue, none of its officials has met the stranded labourers or paid a visit to the wounded labourer NC Vijaykumar, who is admitted in the Sumbe Government Hospital.

Recounting the horror to DNA on Saturday, Vijaykumar who is still weathering pain of two bullets in his left thigh, said, "Doctors have not done anything to remove the bullets from my body. I was standing outside my cabin at the cement plant when I heard the sound of bullets being fired. I rushed to get into the cabin and but fell after two bullets hit my leg. Next moment it was blood oozing out."

Showing his desperation to return back to his native country, Vijaykumar said, "I want to recover as early as possible and return to India. But company has kept my passport with it."

Vijaykumar's family consists of two sisters, two brothers and parents. They live in a village near Mangalore in Karnataka. Stephen Pinto, a friend of Vijay, who is with him in the hospital said, "He has not been operated yet and the two bullets are still in his left thigh. Doctors are saying that he will be operated soon once his pain and bleeding is be reduced. Doctors have kept him on saline and giving three injections during the day." He added, "A doctor from our company had visited us on Saturday morning but he didn't talk to us. Nobody from the Indian Embassy has visited us to inquire about our condition."

Back at the cement plant labourers have been given food on Saturday morning. "We were given daal and rice to eat, but we are very scared as policemen are having guns and they keep firing rounds. I have been living here for last one year and have not received payment for last five months. My passport is in company's possession. I am entitled to get leave for few days but have not been allowed to go home. I have not taken bath for last three days,," said Jitendra Patel, a Gujarati labourer, a resident of Nandarkha village near Chikhli in Navsari.