34 bonded labourers, including nine children, rescued from brick kiln in Karnataka’s Bagalkot
Bagalkot: Authorities in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district rescued 34 bonded labourers, including nine children, who had been trafficked from Odisha and allegedly held captive at a brick kiln.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, the rescue followed a complaint received by the district administration. The complainant informed the authorities that several individuals were confined at a brick kiln in Sankalapur village of Ilakal taluk which is around 50 km from the district headquarters. The total number of bonded labourers rescued in the district over the past three months has risen to 99, according to officials.
Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner Sangappa M said action was taken immediately after the complaint was received. “Given the number of cases coming to light, we will review the feasibility of conducting special drives to eliminate bonded labour in the district,” he said.
District Labour Officer Ramesh S Sumbad told DH that a first information report had been registered against the owner of the brick kiln. Adding that all rescued labourers had undergone medical examinations and were declared fit to travel, he said “They are scheduled to return to Odisha by train tonight."
The rescue was facilitated following a complaint by Spandana Association, an NGO working on labour rights. According to the organisation, the 34 rescued persons belonged to nine families who were allegedly lured with advances ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 per family by a trafficker.
Sushila, director of the NGO, told DH that the families were initially told they would be employed in Vijayawada and were taken there by bus. “They were later transported by train to Bagalkot. It was only about two weeks after starting work that they realised they were in Karnataka, after speaking to local labourers,” she said.
The families were reportedly paid ₹800 per week for work at the kiln. Once every week only one member of each family was allowed to visit the market. While the workers allegedly suffered physical and verbal abuse, they were also threatened when they questioned their working conditions, she claimed.
According to the NGO, the laborers were housed in makeshift brick shelters with no access to drinking water or sanitation facilities, and they were constantly monitored, even when they went outside to urinate themselves.
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Rape accused's mother murdered by victim's brother in MP's Shivpuri
Shivpuri (PTI): The 60-year-old mother of a rape accused was killed allegedly by the victim's brother in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, a police official said on Saturday.
The incident took place on Friday, Rannod police station house officer (SHO) Arvind Chauhan said.
"An anganwadi worker returning from a hospital was offered a lift by one Inder Gurjar, who took her to a secluded spot and raped her. She called up her brothers to narrate the ordeal. One brother of the victim along with two associates went to Gurjar's house and assaulted him. When Gurjar's mother Sirkunwarbai (60) intervened, she was attacked with a sharp weapon. She died on the spot," he said.
Based on a complaint filed by the deceased woman's daughter-in-law, three persons were booked for murder. One of them was held on Saturday, the official added.
A separate case has also been registered against Gurjar for rape, he said.
Police personnel have been deployed in the area in view of tension following the incident, the official added.
