Justice eludes Odhisa boy tortured under bonded labour

KANNUR: Amit (name changed) reached Kannur from Odisha with a relative more than two years ago. He was taken to a house in Karthikapuram to take care of an elderly man who was bed-ridden. More than two years into his job, he was not given proper food or shelter, not to mention the salary. Housed in a hut-like structure stretched outside the house, the plight of the boy was shot by some unknown people and informed the police.

The pathetic story of the teenager spread and case was registered against the father and son under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, and the boy was shifted to Government Children’s Home. Alakode SI A. Asokan said that they were led to it after some unknown persons posted a video of the abuse on a WhatsApp group, which included the district police chief.

“The SP ordered a quick inquiry and the police immediately reached the house and freed the boy, aged 18 by then. The torture had started by the time he reached Karthikapuram when he was just 15. Though he was brought to take care of the bedridden, the boy was forced to do all the odd jobs in the house, without proper food,” he said. The cops said he was almost under house arrest and was not allowed to meet the neighbours, as they feared if he would reveal the reality. The Alakode station almost a month ago informed Chandrapur police station under which the boy's village falls. However, even after a month, the cops are yet to identify the family.

The SI said they were ready to take him to homeland if nobody turns up. However, Child Welfare Committee member C.P. Vijayaraj said child labour was a common issue there, though not bonded labour. Six cases were reported in the last three months in the district, where teenagers from other states were brought to work in homes of the wealthy.