16 Bonded Labourers Rescued From Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir: At least 16 bonded labourers were rescued in Odisha’s Balangir district on Sunday night. The rescued labourers included five women and four children. They were allegedly being trafficked to Hyderabad.

The rescued labourers were from Hatkat and Salebandha villages under Patnagarh police station limits in the district.

Receiving hints about this human trafficking, police intercepted a bus carrying the migrant labourers near the Patnagarh bus stand late last night.

The labourers were allegedly being taken to Hyderabad by a middleman to work as a bonded labourer in a brick kiln.

The middleman was identified as Ratan Biswal of Madodar village. He was arrested on charges of human trafficking and under Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

Police took the labourers to the Patnagarh police station for further investigation.

A few days back around 44 migrant labourers including 14 minors were rescued by Balangir town police. They were also being trafficked to Hyderabad.