A labourer's desperate escape from a factory in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district uncovered a bonded labour racket, where workers were confined, tortured and forced to work for months under inhuman conditions.
Police said the case came to light after Vikram, a labourer from Rajasthan's Jodhpur district, scaled the boundary wall of a disposable leaf bowl and paper plate manufacturing unit in Mandi village and reached Titawi police station on June 22.
A police raid led to the rescue of 12 workers and the arrest of two people, officials said. The workers were allegedly lured from railway stations, bus stands and other public places with promises of jobs, salaries, food and accommodation.
They were made to work from around 4 am till nearly midnight every day and were allegedly assaulted with iron rods, sticks and fan belts. Medical examinations revealed multiple injuries, including bruises, cuts, fractures and signs of prolonged physical abuse.
The workers were also given little food and often survived on rotis made from bran, commonly used as cattle feed. Several workers told police they were intimidated by pitbull dogs and prevented from escaping.
A case has been registered against the factory owner, his father and the factory supervisor under relevant sections of the law. The workers are undergoing treatment and officials are trying to reach out to their families.
