A disturbing case of labour migration has surfaced in Rayagada district, where Fakir Miniaaka (36) of Padakapadu village went missing after leaving for work in Bengaluru.
His wife, Shanti Miniaaka, has made an emotional appeal to authorities to trace him and bring him back.
According to Shanti, Fakir was taken by a middleman named Mainshi Kani of Titijhola village under Kumbikota panchayat on December 3, 2025. He was promised food, lodging, and a monthly wage of Rs 12,000. The middleman reportedly handed him over to agents at Rayagada railway station. However, on December 21, the family received a call stating Fakir had not joined work. Since then, his whereabouts remain unknown.
Shanti lodged a written complaint at the Rayagada police station on December 27, but the family claims no action has been taken. She has also submitted a petition to the Superintendent of Police, expressing fear that her husband may be dead or alive under suspicious circumstances.
The family, with two young children, depends entirely on Fakir’s earnings. Shanti has urged the administration and police to intensify efforts to trace him. District Labour Officer Rabindranath Tripathy has contacted the person who took Fakir for work and directed him to file an FIR in Bengaluru. He assured that steps are being taken to gather information and locate the missing worker.
The case highlights the growing risks faced by migrant labourers from Rayagada, where several have died or gone missing in recent years. Families continue to demand stricter monitoring of labour contractors and protection for vulnerable workers.
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