Satnam Singh, a 31-year-old farmworker of Indian origin, was left agonizing in the street after losing his right arm in an accident while working at a farm in Borgo Santa Maria, in the countryside near Latina south of Rome.

The man died of his injuries in the morning of Wednesday, June 19, at Rome's San Camillo hospital where he was taken in critical condition on Monday afternoon.

Lost arm on fruit collection basket near him

The worker's arm, severed by farm machinery used to wrap fruit by the Lovato agricultural business, was left near him on a fruit collection basket. The chilling detail is part of a story of dire exploitation: the owner of the company that employed the man, who was already under investigation for causing injury through negligence and failure to assist, now risks manslaughter charges.

After the accident, nobody called for help. Instead, Singh was put in a lorry and dumped in front of his home, his employer later told investigators. And while the lorry was driving towards Sant'Ilario with the man's wife on board, who is also employed by the same company, the woman implored the driver to call an ambulance, in vain.

Singh was then abandoned in front of his home and his family had to call the 118 emergency service. Paramedics assisted him before he was taken by helicopter to the San Camillo hospital, where he died on the morning of June 19.

Reactions to Singh's death

The owner of the farm, assisted by attorneys Stefano Perotti and Valerio Righi, was questioned for several hours by Carabinieri police in Latina, directed by Major Paolo Perrone. Investigators need to determine whether the unwillingness to call emergency services was due to the fact that Singh did not have a regular contract or that he didn't have a residence permit.

Singh migrated to Italy with his wife. Both had been working at the farm for the past two years. Their life was similar to the one of many Indian citizens who work in the fields and farms of southern Lazio -- often with few rights and guarantees.

Singh's story has shaken the public opinion. The Lazio region has said that it will join judicial proceedings as a plaintiff against those who are responsible for the worker's death and that it will pay for his funeral. It also summoned an urgent meeting with local unions "on the theme of security in the workplace", especially in light of imminent heatwaves that could be fatal for those working in the fields for many hours.

Also read: Italy: Migrants exploited and beaten in Foggia, says trade union

City of Latina's Mayor, Matilde Celentano, also said she might join the suit as a plaintiff and called for a day of mourning.

Singh's story has once again highlighted the problem of the gangmaster system which exploits workers in slave-like conditions, on pittance wages.

In a press release, Mauro Destefano, coordinator of the humanitarian organization EMERGENCY's project in Calabria, said that Satnam Singh is "a victim of exploitation and racism" and a "victim of modern slavery in Latina." He added that "such conditions are present in many parts of this country, which too often fails to recognize rights, protect workers, and welcome people."

Farmers' union Coldiretti called for "harsh sentences and rigorous controls targeting the black labor market and exploitation, bringing to light irregular labor cases that provide disloyal competition to regular businesses".

Labor unions CGIL and UIL demanded immediate intervention "on the theme of security, an emergency among emergencies" and another union, CISL, asked for "dignity to be guaranteed as well as security on the job, in all production sectors". Members of the opposition, with the Democratic Party (PD) and Five-Star Movement (M5S), spoke about a "beastly act" and a "point of no return."

Labour Minister Marina Calderone slammed the incident as a "barbaric act that must be pursued" and pledged the government's commitment to "provide the widest possible assistance to authorities, as we have been doing since the first hours, to ascertain the facts and ensure that those responsible will be punished."

Also read: 'No rights' for 10,000 migrants in Italy's 'ghetto' camps