The labourers, who returned from Malaysia after the nine-month ordeal. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, Oct. 31: A group of 18 skilled labourers from this district headquarters town and its neighbouring areas are back home after undergoing a harrowing ordeal for nine months in Malaysia.

They had made their way to Malaysia in search of lucrative jobs. However, their dream was shattered as they were trapped by a members by a human trafficking racket.

They alleged that they were treated in Malaysia like bonded labourers and were forced to work for 18 hours amid inhospitable condition.

Escaping from the tyrannical employers, some of them roamed around in forest area.

A job placement agent from Bhubaneswar had allegedly taken them for a ride. The youths were taken to Kuala Lumpur with the promise of job in a shipping company on January 19.

They were taken to Malaysia on tourist visa, which expired within a month. After the expiry of their visa, the youths became illegal immigrants in Malaysia. The Malaysian government later received complaints from the relatives of some of the victims’ relatives earlier this month. The matter was brought to the notice of Indian consulate in Kuala Lumpur. They promptly intervened and arranged transit visa for their safe return to home, said Kendrapara collector Niranjan Nayak.

“I could return home safely only by the blessings of God,” said 22-year-old Biswajit Sahu, a native of Sunailo hamlet.

He said more than a dozen of labourers from the state were still languishing as illegal immigrants in Malaysia.