By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 23: A Meghalaya youth, allegedly abused in Jammu and Kashmir, was reunited with his family on Saturday after a distress call to the 1971 CM Connect helpline made the state government coordinate his rescue through an inter-state operation.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma received Genal R Marak of the East Khasi Hills district’s Lumturi village at Guwahati Airport.
According to an official release, Marak was working at a restaurant in Srinagar for the past three years under allegedly exploitative and abusive conditions.
The release stated that he left Meghalaya at the age of 16 in search of employment after arriving in Shillong, where he later came in contact with an individual who reportedly took him to Kashmir for work at the restaurant. During his employment there, he was allegedly denied wages and subjected to both physical and mental abuse by the restaurant owner and his son.
The government said the turning point in Marak’s ordeal came on April 24 after a distress call was received through the 1971 CM Connect helpline. According to the release, Marak contemplated taking his own life if help had not reached him in time.
Following the complaint, officials from Meghalaya coordinated with law enforcement authorities and senior officials in Jammu and Kashmir to locate him and facilitate immediate intervention. The government stated that a joint team comprising the Assistant Labour Commissioner and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Jammu and Kashmir traced and rescued Marak from Srinagar.
To ensure his safety and welfare during the process, the Meghalaya government deputed a magistrate to oversee the case and assist in bringing him back home. The release further stated that Marak’s pending wages were released before his return to Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister, in a social media post, said he was “deeply relieved and grateful” to welcome Marak back safely after a “difficult and traumatic experience” in Jammu and Kashmir. He said meeting the youth at the airport was an emotional moment, reiterating that the safety and well-being of every Meghalaya inhabitant would remain a top priority for the government.
The Chief Minister stated that the swift response by officials following the distress call enabled Marak to be safely reunited with his family. He described the CM Connect helpline as a vital support system for the state’s residents and commended the team involved in the rescue effort for their timely and decisive response.
The government maintained that the incident demonstrated the importance of inter-state coordination, prompt follow-up and institutional support in addressing distress cases involving Meghalaya residents working outside the state.
