12 bonded labourers facing atrocity rescued; 2 arrested | Lucknow News

Lucknow: Muzaffarnagar Police rescued 12 labourers, including minors, confined and forced to work under brutal conditions at a factory in Mandi village under Titawi police station limits. Two accused were arrested, while main operator of the unit is on the run.The rescue operation was carried out on Monday by a joint team of Titawi police, rural SOG, labour department officials and revenue authorities under supervision of rural SP Akshay Sanjay Mahadik. Acting on a tip-off, teams raided premises and freed the workers who had been in captivity for nearly one to one-and-a-half years.The victims, belonging to Bihar, UP, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Rajasthan, told investigators they were lured with promises of jobs, monthly salary of Rs 10,000–Rs 12,000, food and accommodation, but were instead turned into bonded labourers.In disturbing accounts, the workers alleged they were given just one meal a day, often dry rotis and were not allowed to leave the premises. Those who demanded wages or attempted to escape were allegedly beaten with rods and sticks. Even those who fell ill were denied medical care.Police arrested Shiva Tyagi and Pradeep Balyan, while factory operator Ankit Balyan is absconding. Tyagi admitted targeting job seekers at railway stations and public places, said Sanjay Kumar, SSP, Muzaffarnagar.A case has been registered under sections of the BNS, Child Labour Act, Juvenile Justice Act and Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act.“Bonded labour is slavery and those who exploit vulnerable workers through confinement, violence and deprivation will face strict action,” said Bhanu Bhaskar, ADG, Meerut Zone.