Revenue officials on Friday rescued seven bonded labourers, including three women, from a charcoal-making unit at Veerampakkam village in Cheyyar.
A team led by Revenue Divisional Officer of Cheyyar P. Kirubanandham rescued the seven persons along with four children – two girls and two boys – during a raid conducted based on information from International Justice Mission, an NGO.
“During the inquiry, the persons told us that they were working at the unit for the last five years. The owner of the unit restricted their movement and did not allow them to visit their village for Pongal,” Mr. Kirubanandham said. The rescued persons were living in sheds while working at the charcoal-making unit.
Karupayi,45, her sons Babu,26, and Prabhu,21, Babu’s wife Kamakshi,21, children Kavitha,4, Prakash,3, Viji, 2, and Poonkodi,1, Prabhu’s wife Radhika,19, and Rajendran,40, Kanni, 52, were rescued, officials said.
The RDO said a complaint against the owner of the unit would be lodged.
