A bonded labourer who had escaped earlier this month from a kiln in Avalahalli led authorities back to the brick factory to rescue his wife and two children, among others, who had been forced to work there for the last 10 years.
The district administration, along with the police, on Friday rescued six bonded labourers and their four children aged between 10 months and 5 years.
The victims had allegedly been trafficked from Vellore in Tamil Nadu by the owner of the factory with the help of an associate. A case has been registered against the owner and his assistant under Section 370 (trafficking of persons) of the IPC and Sections 16, 17, 18 of the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act.
Among the six adults, the three women complained that the owner had sexually harassed them.
One of the men escaped earlier this month and travelled to Vellore. With the help of an NGO, SARPAM, he communicated with authorities in Bengaluru.
“The owner used to sexually harass my wife and offered her money for sex. After I ran away, he used to lock my wife, children and mother in a room throughout the night fearing that they too would run away. My wife was beaten by the owner. We were never allowed to leave the factory as a family. My wife gave birth inside the brick kiln 10 months ago,” said the labourer who had escaped.
Inquiries revealed that the owner is a repeat offender. A similar case was registered against him in 2013 where five bonded labourers, including two children, were rescued from his brick kiln. He was then charged with Section 370 of the IPC and under various sections of the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Police are on the lookout for the owner of the kiln. They are also trying to locate one more labourer whose wife was rescued while he was away loading bricks in a different location.
