Government seeks release of workers held in UAE

DUBAI: Around 2300 workers, most of them Indians working with a construction company, are in detention in various jails of the UAE for violent protests, prompting India to seek their immediate release, official sources said today.

"The Indian embassy, which condemns the protests, is in touch with the UAE authorities and is trying its best to get the detained Indian workers released," Indian ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmad told PTI.

"Indian embassy has asked the UAE authorities that all the people involved in the incident should be dealt with as per the country's laws, but those workers, who were not involved in the incident, should be freed and allowed to go to work," he said.

So far the UAE has not reacted officially to the incident, but sources told PTI that the Ministry of Interior will issue a statement in the matter.

The incident occurred on Friday night when workers of Al Hamra Construction in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah went on a rampage while protesting against the poor quality of food at their camp and allegedly thrashed the camp-in-charge and damaged two vehicles of the company, police claimed.

The labourers, believed to be the natives of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Punjab, were questioned and their finger prints reportedly taken by the authorities.

Meanwhile, the company officials have told the Indian diplomats they are willing to take back all the workers and also added an overwhelming number of workers were not involved in the incident and had no dispute over working conditions.