An Indian farm worker, Satnam Singh, tragically lost his life after being abandoned on the roadside following a severe accident in Latina, a rural region south of Rome, Italy. The accident occurred while Singh was working on a farm, resulting in the severing of his arm, according to an AFP report.
Labour Minister Marina Calderone condemned the incident, calling it “a true act of barbarity,” and expressed hope that those responsible would be held accountable. Authorities are currently investigating the matter. Singh believed to be around 30 or 31 years old and working without legal documentation, suffered the injury while operating a hay-cutting machine, reported the Flag CGIL trade union.
The Indian Embassy in Italy acknowledged the tragic incident and attempted to contact Singh’s family to provide consular assistance. “The Embassy is aware of the very unfortunate demise of an Indian national in Latina, Italy. We are in contact with the local authorities. Efforts are underway to contact the family and provide consular assistance,” the Indian Embassy in Rome posted on X.
According to the trade union, instead of receiving immediate medical assistance, Singh was “dumped like a bag of rubbish near his home,” a situation described as akin to a “horror film.” Singh’s wife and friends alerted the police, and an air ambulance was dispatched. Despite being airlifted to a hospital in Rome, Singh succumbed to his injuries around midday. A police spokesman confirmed to AFP that Singh “was flown to a hospital in Rome, but he died around midday.”
The centre-left Democratic Party strongly condemned the treatment of Singh, highlighting the notorious worker exploitation in the area. The party emphasized the need to continue the fight against gangmasters and to ensure dignified and humane living and working conditions for all workers.