Indian fisherman in Oman brutally beaten for seeking break from work takes shelter in Muscat

2012-03-23

An Indian fish vendor in Oman, who was brutally beaten up by relatives of his employer for seeking rest after long hours of working, has arrived in Muscat after running away from Duqm for taking shelter.

"I came here seeking shelter and intervention from the Indian Embassy as I feared that my Omani employees could harm me further," Gulf News quoted Jefferson, as saying.

Jefferson had refused to unload a newly arrived stock of fish at the seashore, which is 12km away from main Duqm town, as he had worked continuously since morning last Monday.

His employers' cousin began beating him as he requested them to let him go.

Jefferson was taken to the police station by a Pakistani national, but their vehicle was intercepted on the way by the employer's cousin and three others.

According to the report, Jefferson received help from a barber, known only by his first name Suresh, to escape from Duqm and reach Muscat.

"Jefferson understands only little Arabic and speaks only Malayalam, so I decided to help him come to Muscat and contacted social workers here," Suresh said.

Suresh contacted P. M. Jabir, the Indian Social Club's Welfare Secretary and asked the embassy to help Jefferson and talk to his employers.

The Indian embassy paid Jefferson 20 Omani Riyals and requested Jabir to organise shelter for Jefferson, who went to Oman from the Kollam district of Kerala only four months ago.

Source:Middle East News.Net