Bolangir: Twelve labourers including two minors of Uparuda village under Loisingha police limits in this district have reportedly been held captive by their employer in Andhra Pradesh.
In a written petition to the district labour officer and Bolangir SP, Sushila College and Daupadi Barik of the village demanded steps for immediate rescue of the labourers who are being tortured physically and mentally.
Sources said a brick kiln owner DVR Reddy of Tripuran in Vijayawada district of Andhra Pradesh had visited Uparuda December, 2015. He lured the locals into working at a brick kiln on the promise of good wages.
Later, Gurucharan Barik, Jharu Kalet, Rukuni Kalet, Bije Kumbhar, Santoshini Kumbhar, Sunita Kalet, Kasturi Kalet, Rudana Kalet, Brundabati Bagh and Annapurna Bagh left for Andhra with Reddy. The group included four-year-old Surati Kalet and two-year-old Nandini Kumbhar, the daughter of Bije Kalet.
However, their real ordeal began when the labourers reached the neighbouring state. Reddy made them toil 18-20 hours a day and even forced the minors to work. He threatened the workers with dire consequences when they asked him of advance payments.
The matter came to fore after the workers made phone calls to their relatives in the village. Sushila and Daupadi alleged Reddy along with local goons assaulted the labourers when they wanted to return home. He deprived them of food and other basic necessities.
District labour officer Madan Mohan Paika contacted his Andhra Pradesh counterpart in this regard, sources said. PNN
