Bonded labourers rescued from farm in Hoskote

Bengaluru: Four trafficked bonded labourers, including three minors, were rescued by the Bengaluru Rural district administration and local police from a vegetable farm in Hoskote on the outskirts of the city on Saturday.

The rescued minor labourers are aged 14, 15 and 16 years, while the adult is 25 years old. The rescue operation was conducted after the International Justice Mission (IJM), an NGO, received information and alerted the district administration.

Among the four victims, three were from Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu and one from Ramanagar district. They were allegedly trafficked by the farm owner and his five sons after he paid their parents an advance several years ago. All the four labourers were children when they were first brought to the farm.

The owner allegedly forced them to work at the farm in lieu of an advance given to their parents ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000. The labourers were promised good living conditions, good food, a weekly off and bigger advances every year, but all these promises turned out to be false.

They complained that they were not allowed to take any rest and pesticides were causing them respiratory problems. They were also allegedly frequently beaten and verbally abused by the owner.

“They were only given a meagre Rs 10 a week. They were given basic food, but the labourers complained that it was only leftovers and often stale,” said Sashmeeta Mulmi, Director of Government Engagement at IJM.

“Four months ago after I was beaten badly and escaped from the farm. I went home, but the owner’s son came to my village and brought me back. For a week it was okay, but then they started beating me again,” one of them said.

Hoskote Tahsildhar G.B. Chandrashekar, who led the rescue operations, said, “The rescued labourers have been given release certificates by the Assistant Commissioner of Bangalore Rural District, M.K. Jagadish and they will be rehabilitated.” A case has been registered.