Agra: Thirteen workers, including two minors aged 16 and 17, were rescued on Tuesday from a factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district where they were allegedly held captive for nearly 10 months, starved, assaulted and forced to work without wages in what police described as a “shocking case of bonded labour”.While the factory operator, Ankit Baliyan, remains absconding, his friend Shiva Tyagi (26) and relative Pradeep Baliyan (30) were arrested following the rescue operation.Police said the workers had been lured with promises of jobs paying between Rs 8,000 and Rs 12,000 a month, along with food and accommodation. Instead, they allegedly found themselves trapped inside the factory, forced to manufacture disposable plates and bowls while being subjected to repeated abuse.One of the rescued workers alleged that he was brought from Ambala after being promised a monthly salary and proper meals. “We were told that we would get food and tea three times a day, but none of those promises was fulfilled. Sometimes we were left hungry for 24 hours and given only coarse rotis made from cattle feed. We were not paid any wages. Our mobile phones, Aadhaar cards and other documents were taken away. If anyone refused to work or asked for food, they were beaten with sticks and belts,” he said.The worker further alleged that labourers were kept under constant surveillance and prevented from escaping using guard dogs. “One Pitbull was kept inside the gate, and the other outside. Because of the dogs and the beatings, nobody dared to run away,” he alleged.Police said the victims belong to Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal. The workers alleged they were denied medical treatment even when they fell ill.The rescue operation was carried out by the Rural Special Operations Group. SSP Sanjay Verma said, “The rescued workers had visible and serious injury marks on various parts of their bodies. They said they were recruited from bus stands, railway stations and other public places on the promise of jobs.”He added, “Their mobile phones were confiscated, they were not allowed to contact their families and were prevented from leaving the premises. The accused also allegedly used heated iron equipment and fan belts to assault them.” Medical examinations confirmed fractures and other serious injuries.During interrogation, police said,Shiva Tyagi admitted that workers were recruited from public places after being promised jobs, food and shelter. Once brought to the factory, however, they received no wages and were forced to continue working under threats and violence.“The raid uncovered a serious bonded labour racket and helped restore freedom to workers who had endured months of exploitation, abuse and captivity,” SP (Rural) Akshay Sanjay told TOI. Police said a case has been registered at Titavi police station under multiple provisions of the BNS, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, the Child Labour Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.
