PTI
Dubai, Jul 16: Nearly 3,000 Indian workers, who were detained by the UAE authorities following violent protests in their labour camp earlier this month, would be released shortly and allowed to rejoin work, official sources said.
However, eight detainees -- seven Indians and a Bangladeshi -- will remain in custody for their role in the protests over the ''poor'' quality of food being served to the workers in the camp, the sources said on Wednesday.
The workers, who will be released, will join the investigations as and when they will be required, they added.
Earlier, Indian ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmad had said that the Indian embassy, which condemned the violent act, was in touch with the UAE authorities and trying its best to release the detained workers.
The incident occurred on July 4 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.
Later, the riot police were called in who detained all the workers and took them to various jails in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah) in 60 vehicles, officials said.
The company officials had told the Indian diplomats they were 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.