Sonepur: Fifteen migrant workers from Subarnapur and Bolangir districts were rescued from a brick kiln in Telangana and reunited with their families, police said Saturday. Subarnapur SP Narayan Nayak informed reporters at the district police headquarters here that the workers were traced to a kiln in the Mancherial area of Telangana and brought back following directions from the Orissa High Court.
The rescued workers are Sudam Das, 48; Sabitri Das, 28; Rinku Das, 24; Babulu Salanki, 19; Gayatri Bharati, 19; Debarchan Meghani, 28; Malati Giri, 61; Arati Bharati, 46; Bhumisuta Meghani, 48; Jayanti Bharati, 52; and Chaturbhuj Bharati, 23, along with several minors and children.
According to officials, seven of the workers are from Nagapali village under Sonepur police limits in Subarnapur district, while eight are from Phasada village under Loisingha police limits in Bolangir district. They had travelled to Telangana in November last year with their families to work at the brick kiln after being promised wages as per prior agreements.
However, the workers alleged that they were underpaid, denied medical care and subjected to harassment. They were allegedly prevented from leaving the kiln premises and forced to live in conditions akin to captivity. A petition was subsequently filed before the Orissa High Court by Kunj Bharati and Debarchan Meghani, seeking intervention.
Expressing serious concern, the court observed that although formal slavery has been abolished, the suffering of migrant workers continues. It directed the Subarnapur Superintendent of Police to take immediate legal steps to secure their release. Following the court’s order, the district police and Labour department launched a coordinated rescue operation.
The state government’s Labour department worked with its liaison officer in Telangana, who contacted local labour authorities and police. The workers were located at the kiln and brought back by train Friday. They reached Bolangir railway station Saturday morning and were later taken to Subarnapur with police assistance before being handed over to their families.
Additional SP KK Hariprasad, DSP Pratap Rana, Subarnapur District Labour Officer Dibya Shankar Dharua and Inspector Subash Chandra Rayaguru of the Bolangir SP’s office were present during the press briefing. Officials said further legal action would be taken in accordance with the law.