Sundargarh: Migrant workers, who had gone to work at a brick-kiln in Vizianagaram, alleged that they were inhumanly tortured by the brick-kiln owner after they sought release of their long held wages.
The torture crossed all limits when their employer splashed acid on one of the workers and chopped off another’s finger.
The matter came to the fore after five of the workers, including the acid attack victim, managed to escape and reached their village. They were admitted to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Burla by their families where their condition is stated to be critical.
As many as 12 labourers of Hemagiri area in Sundargarh district had gone to work at a brick-kiln in Vizianagaram two-and-a-half months back after they were lured by some middlemen.
However, their hopes of good salary were dashed after the employer subjected them to physical and mental torture. He made them to work under extreme conditions without food. He assaulted when someone dared to open their mouth.
Unable to bear the torture, the workers approached him to pay their dues so that they could return home. However, the man allegedly threw acid on one of them and chopped off one’s finger.
Since then, the workers were working without pay, fearing for their lives. They managed to escape to their village. Seven more are still in the clutches of the employer.
“We were working at a brick kiln in Vizianagaram. The owner got angry and threw acid on my father,” the victim’s son said.
“When we asked for the rest amount, the owner refused. He also threw acid on one of our co-workers and cut another’s finger,” alleged another worker.
Seeking the intervention of the district administration to rescue others, their family members approached the SP and the District Collector for help. Similarly, Jagdish Mirda of Dumerpadar village under Patnagarh block in Bolangir district is battling for life in VIMSAR after he was assaulted by his employer and hired goons when he asked for his dues. Mirda’s wife Jamuna lodged a complaint with the police after which the cops launched a probe into the incident.
Mirda had taken advance money from a middleman to go to work in a brick-kiln. However, he changed his mind and promised to repay the amount. The middleman along with two of his goons kidnapped Mirda to their house where they held him captive through the night and assaulted him. Later, they brought him in an unconscious state and dumped him near his house.
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