A group of 34 Indian nationals who were allegedly evicted by their employer were detained by the police in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday for not possessing valid documents.

According to Yayasan Strategik Social (YSS) case officer V Vanita Ramany, the construction workers were allegedly ill-treated by the employer, whom she claimed had 'unlawfully kept' them without food after canceling their work permits on Dec 19.

The labourers, who claimed that they were not paid since August, had previously approached YSS - the social arm set-up by MIC - for help.

Vanita said yesterday the employer, construction company Euro Prestasi, had allegedly evicted the workers from the company premises where they were staying.

The workers then contacted YSS and the latter had dispatched a lorry to pick them up. However, they were arrested as they attempted to board the lorry.

The workers are currently being detained at the Brickfields district police headquarters.

Meanwhile, Vanita claimed that the employer had also lodged a police report yesterday, saying that the workers had absconded.

"How can they have absconded if they were arrested outside their place of work?" asked the case officer when contacted.

'Assault' charge

On Dec 2, the workers had lodged a police report, which was made available to malaysiakini, claiming that three of them were assaulted by hired thugs when they demanded their unpaid wages.

The group then lodged a similar complaint with YSS on Dec 11.

Following this, Vanita said YSS helped the workers file a case against their employer at the labour department four days later and are currently waiting for the issuance of a special pass that would allow them to be classified as legal migrant workers until the hearing ends.

She added that YSS hopes to obtain the passes today and when contacted later, she said the department had issued a letter that would allow the workers temporary stay.

"However, since the investigating officer is not around, we can only get it done at the immigration department on Friday," she added.

The workers' plight had also received wide coverage in the Tamil media, which reported that they had come here with valid travel documents after mortgaging their land and jewellery to pay RM7,000 to the employment agency.

Brickfields district police chief Zulhasnan Najib Baharuddin confirmed the arrest and said that the workers would be handed over to immigration authorities.

On the workers' allegation that three of them were assaulted by hired thugs, he said the police have concluded their investigations but have found the claim to have no clear basis.

Euro Prestasi manager A Mahendran when contacted declined to comment, beyond insisting that the workers had absconded.