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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I always live with hope, confidence; time will answer: D K Shivakumar on leadership issue
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who returned from New Delhi after meeting the Congress high command amid the leadership tussle in the state, on Friday said he lives with "hope and confidence" and that there will always be fruit for the efforts made.
He also reiterated that "time will answer", in the wake of reports that both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah may soon be called to New Delhi by the party leadership to discuss a possible transition of power.
"I always live with hope and confidence. There will always be fruit for the effort, whether it is for you, for me, or for anyone else. Where there is effort, there is fruit; where there is devotion, there is God," Shivakumar told reporters in response to a question after returning from New Delhi.
Asked whether the fruit of his efforts could be expected soon, he said, "Let’s talk about that some other time."
Responding to reports that both he and Siddaramaiah would be summoned to New Delhi around February 17 by the Congress high command to discuss a possible power transition, Shivakumar said, "I don’t know. Let’s see. Time will answer everything."
Shivakumar met senior party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, as well as AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, during his New Delhi visit.
On Thursday, the Deputy CM had told reporters in Delhi that the leadership issue was not discussed with the party’s top brass, but added that "patience will also pay". He had said the party’s central leadership would take a call at an appropriate time in the interest of the state.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by a reported power-sharing arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of the government’s formation in 2023.
Siddaramaiah had on Wednesday asserted that both he and Shivakumar should abide by the Congress high command’s decision on the chief ministerial change issue.
Amid reports that some party legislators are planning a foreign tour to Australia and New Zealand, with speculation linking it to the ongoing power tussle within the ruling party, Shivakumar—who is also the state Congress chief—said he was not aware of it and would inquire.
"I have not received any report on this, nor have I tried to obtain information about it. Now that you have brought it to my notice, I will inquire," he said, responding to a question about the legislators’ foreign tour, with some describing it as a study tour and others calling it personal.
When asked whether the Congress high command had sought any details on the tour, he said, "No one from the high command has spoken to me about this. Neither those going on the tour have spoken to me, nor those sending them."
