Erode: Twenty-four bonded labourers from Madhya Pradesh, including nine children, were rescued from sugarcane fields in Olapalayam village, with police arresting a middleman from Maharashtra in connection with the case, The New Indian Express.
The accused, identified as S. Yuvraj Shindo (50), allegedly recruited the workers last November and brought them to work in sugarcane fields in Erode. Police said the labourers had earlier been employed in Maharashtra for about four months, where each of them was paid around Rs 30,000.
According to officials, the workers were transported to Erode on February 22 and made to stay in farmlands in Olapalayam, where they were forced to harvest sugarcane without wages. Authorities said the labourers were not allowed to leave the farmland and were effectively treated as bonded workers.
The case came to light after the National Commission for Tribal Welfare received information about their situation and alerted the district administration.
Following the tip-off, a joint team of revenue officials and the Modakurichi Police conducted an inspection at the farmland on Saturday, leading to the rescue of the labourers. They were later shifted to a private hall in Modakurichi for assistance and further procedures.
Based on a complaint filed by the Revenue Divisional Officer, police arrested Shindo on Sunday and registered a case under provisions of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
A Sujatha, Superintendent of Police of Erode district, said the rescued workers would be sent back to Madhya Pradesh after the completion of legal and administrative procedures.
