Komna: In a heart-wrenching incident, a bonded labourer who had gone missing three years back reunited with his family after three years much to the relief of his family members who had presumed him dead.
However, Kansari Khamari (35) wasn’t the same person that he was three years back. Then a healthy man, Kansari is now crippled with a broken leg and has to walk with the help of two bamboo sticks as he cannot afford a walking stick. Kansari’s miserable condition led to an outpouring of anger in the area.
Kansari hails from Paenr village, just 4 km away from Komna block in Nuapada district.
Kansari was married to Pramila of Maisana village under Lathor police limits in Bolangir district eight years ago. However, the couple later separated due to differences.
Thereafter, Kansari began living with his elder brother and eked out a living by doing odd jobs. He was under stress after being separated from his wife and was struggling to find a source of livelihood.
Availing no option, he fell into the trap of a labour contractor who took him to work at a brick kiln in Andhra Pradesh. The brick kiln owner assaulted him and forced him to work for long hours without pay.
He was not paid any money for years together except for two meals a day. Frustrated, Kansari left to work at another brick kiln as he was illiterate and knew no other means of earning.
However, his fate was such that he was subjected to a similar sort of torture at the other brick kiln as well. One day, his employer reportedly assaulted him after he expressed his inability to work for the day as he ill. The brick kiln owner severely assaulted him and pushed him on to a heap of stones.
Kansari broke one of his legs and suffered deep injuries in his other leg. However, he was denied medical treatment. Failing to get treatment for his leg, Kansari soon lost the use of one of his legs.
Despite becoming disabled, the brick kiln owner refused to let him go and forced him to stay on and work at the brick kiln. One day, Kansari mustered courage and left the brick kiln and came to the railway station where he begged for money in order to buy a ticket for home.
He finally managed to buy a ticket to Bolangir where he resorted to begging for a livelihood.
He was spotted by a resident of his village who took him back home, much to the astonishment of his family members who had given up hope of his return after presuming he was dead. Locals sympathised with Kansari and demanded medical assistance and pension for him. PNN
