Post News Network
Jeypore, Dec 15: In an endless narrative of bonded child labourers being tortured by their employers, a fresh case has come to light where a 15-year-old boy of Koraput district who was sent to Andhra Pradesh as a bonded labourer lost his left eye while working with a bore-well firm. The boy’s family has accused his employers of gouging his eye out in order to sell it to an eye bank.
Identified as Arjun Durua, the minor boy hailing from Kenduguda village of Kermiti panchayat under Kundura block of Koraput district was spotted by a labour contractor named Purna Santa who lured the boy to the neighbouring state with the promise of high wages, the boy’s father Baliram told this newspaper.
Purna took Arjun along with 14 others to Hyderabad, where they were sent to live with a construction company.
Meanwhile, on the day of Kartik Purnima, Baliram got a phone call stating that his son’s left eye was gouged out by his employers who later sold it. An incredulous Baliram then contacted Purna the labour contractor to ask if it was true; Purna however assured Baliram that nothing of that sort had happened.
However, Arjun later made his way back to the village December 9, and his family found out that what they had heard was true. There was a gaping hole in Arjun’s left eye socket, and the boy said he was hardly able to see even through his right eye. Arjun said he returned as he was unable to work anymore.
Arjun said he was engaged by a company that lay bore-wells. He said he was not paid and would be tortured whenever he asked for money. An enraged Baliram later lodged a complaint with the district labour officer stating that his son’s eye was gouged out and sold.
Baliram also sought action against Purna for taking his son away to Hyderabad in order to make him work as a bonded labourer without the consent of his family. He also submitted copies of the complaint to the district collector, sub-collector and local police.
Meanwhile, the owner of the bore-well company which employed Arjun refuted the allegations of gouging the boy’s eye out, and said Arjun lost his eye in a work-related mishap.