Sambalpur: Migrant labourers from this district who work at a brick kiln in Andhra Pradesh were subjected to untold physical torture even as their female counterparts were allegedly gangraped, a report said here Wednesday.
They were given food only once in a day and were made to live in hunger at night. Moreover, they were not given medicines at times of their illness.
The matter came to the fore after three labourers from Talbhata Pada escaped from the brick kiln and reached the town Wednesday.
One of the labourers was identified as Ganesh Munda, who after his arrival here, narrated his ordeal. He stated that 11 labourers were still trapped in the brick kiln which is at Negupali in Rengareddy district of Andhra Pradesh.
The trapped labourers were identified as Sarita Sikha, Bir Bibhar, Kanha Taria, Shanti Suna, Baldev Kumbhar, Burla Kirbar, Geeta Suna, Sabusini Kumbhar, Nirmala Tandi, Gulapi Tandi, Kismat Bag and Mukta Bag.
The revelation shocked the family members of labourers whose kin have migrated to other states for work in brick kilns and other establishments.
Ganesh accompanied by BJP’s Samaleshwari zone president Shambhu Barelia met land acquisition officer Sitanshu Tripathy and submitted a complaint. Tripathy assured all help to the labourers.
Later, they met Superintendent of Police Sanjiv Arora and requested him to rescue the labourers from the brick kiln. Munda alleged that labour agent Gobardhan Sabar of Jhurunipali village in Bargarh district had lured them into work and sold them to the brick kiln owner in Andhra Pradesh.
They were forced to work for 16- 18 hours a day. The kiln owner did not pay them wages and took their thumb impressions taking advantage of their illiteracy. On being directed by the SP, Khetrajpur police registered a case and launched a probe. A police team visited the district labour office and inquired about the details of the migrant labourers. PNN