Droves of Keralites travel to Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia every year, with stars in their eyes, in search of better job opportunities and higher remuneration. But the situation was different for three people from Kerala. A distressing video showing their plight was circulated on Whatsapp, where a Saudi employer, typically garbed in an all-white dress, was seen beating the men with a wooden plank as if herding a group of animals into an enclosure.

The video was taken by one of the men through the camera of his phone, which was kept hidden in his shirt pocket.