Seeking the Centre's immediate intervention into alleged harassment of Odisha workers in Angola, the Odisha government today urged Union External Affairs Minister SM Krishna to take steps to ensure their return to the country safely.

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"I would request your immediate intervention into the matter for taking it up with the Angolan government for justice to these workers and ensuring payment of their wages and other workmen benefits ," Patnaik wrote to Krishna. .

Quoting media reports, Patnaik said that some workers had been implicated on false criminal charges and arrested. Of about 1200 Indian workers, 130 hailed from Odisha's Khurda and Kendrapara districts.

Kendrapara MP Baijayanta Panda also wrote to Krishna requesting him to make immediate arrangements so that the Indian workers were able to return home.

Odisha Labour and Employment minister Pushpendra Singhdeo said that the state government was taking steps to facilitate early return of the workers.

Sanjay Behera of Kendrapara district who managed to flee from Angola said workers were beaten up for asking wages, while proper food was not given.