Bonded Labour / Balangir Police rescue 22 workers, including two minors, in crackdown on illegal labour trafficking
·33 mins ago·2 min read
Key Points
Cops from Khaprakhol Police Station rescued 22 workers, including two minors, in two separate operations and arrested four alleged labour contractors in Odisha's Balangir district, with the operations conducted during night patrols after police intercepted two vehicles allegedly transporting workers to brick kilns outside the state.
Balangir, Nov 13: In a major crackdown on illegal migrant labour trafficking, cops from Khaprakhol Police Station rescued 22 workers, including two minors, in two separate operations and arrested four alleged labour contractors in Odisha's Balangir district, a source said on Friday.
The operations were conducted during night patrols after police intercepted two vehicles allegedly transporting bonded migrant labourers to brick kilns outside the state.
In the first operation, a police team led by Khaprakhol police station Sub-Inspector Lingaraj Kisan stopped a Mahindra Bolero near a bridge for checking. The occupants initially told the police that they were travelling to work at a company involved in poultry farming. However, questioning and subsequent investigation reportedly exposed inconsistencies in their account.
After being taken to the police station for questioning, the occupants were identified as residents of Sunamudi village under Patnagarh police station limits. Police found that two labour contractors from Nuapada district were allegedly taking them to a brick kiln in Hyderabad, Telangana.
The operations were conducted during night patrols after police intercepted two vehicles allegedly transporting bonded migrant labourers to brick kilns outside the state.
In the first operation, a police team led by Khaprakhol police station Sub-Inspector Lingaraj Kisan stopped a Mahindra Bolero near a bridge for checking. The occupants initially told the police that they were travelling to work at a company involved in poultry farming. However, questioning and subsequent investigation reportedly exposed inconsistencies in their account.
After being taken to the police station for questioning, the occupants were identified as residents of Sunamudi village under Patnagarh police station limits. Police found that two labour contractors from Nuapada district were allegedly taking them to a brick kiln in Hyderabad, Telangana.
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Police arrested Manoj Deep, identified as one of the alleged labour agents, and seized the Bolero. The other contractor reportedly fled. The rescued workers were safely sent back to their homes, the source informed.
In a separate operation, a patrol team led by Khaprakhol police station Assistant Sub-Inspector Rabindra Kumbhar intercepted a pickup vehicle near Dhandamunda High School Chhak following a tip-off. During the search, police found workers from Benkera village in the vehicle. They were allegedly being transported to a brick kiln in the Vijayanagaram region for work.
Also Read: Data entry operator dismissed, two revenue staff suspended over alleged land registration fraud in Khordha
Further questioning led police to identify three alleged labour contractors -- Nabin Majhi from Bagauda village under Belpada police station, and Linga Bhoi and Pabitra Majhi from Bada Babezuri village under Patnagarh police station.
Police arrested all three and seized the pickup vehicle.
Across the two operations, police rescued 22 bonded migrant workers, including two minors, and arrested four alleged labour contractors. The rescued workers were prevented from being taken to brick kilns outside Odisha.
In a separate operation, a patrol team led by Khaprakhol police station Assistant Sub-Inspector Rabindra Kumbhar intercepted a pickup vehicle near Dhandamunda High School Chhak following a tip-off. During the search, police found workers from Benkera village in the vehicle. They were allegedly being transported to a brick kiln in the Vijayanagaram region for work.
Also Read: Data entry operator dismissed, two revenue staff suspended over alleged land registration fraud in Khordha
Further questioning led police to identify three alleged labour contractors -- Nabin Majhi from Bagauda village under Belpada police station, and Linga Bhoi and Pabitra Majhi from Bada Babezuri village under Patnagarh police station.
Police arrested all three and seized the pickup vehicle.
Across the two operations, police rescued 22 bonded migrant workers, including two minors, and arrested four alleged labour contractors. The rescued workers were prevented from being taken to brick kilns outside Odisha.
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