Relatives, of a group of persons living in Malaysia, today sought the intervention of the city police to rescue them as they were reportedly subjected to hard work without salary for a few months.

In a petition they alleged that eight persons from the region had been taken to Malaysia by a job consultant on the promise of getting them a salary of Rs.30,000 per month in skill based jobs. All eight of them paid Rs.85,000 in November 2014 to the consultant for the placement.

However, an experienced welder was placed as load man in a hotel in Malaysia, with a monthly salary of Rs.10,000 for a few months. N. Divya, wife of Nagamanickam from Anupparpalayam, said this in the petition.

But for the last four months he was not paid any money, and was also tortured by the employers and forced to work more than 16 hours a day and provided only a limited meal, she said.

All the labourers were locked up in a room and were not allowed to even use cell phone, the petitioners said adding that their passports were also held by the employers, forcing them to remain as captives of the employers.

City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan assured to take efforts to rescue those suffering in Malaysia.