A team of 43 persons belonging to 28 families who worked as bonded labourers in a sugarcane farm at Vadakadu near Alangudi, and who were rescued on Sunday, were sent home on Wednesday. The bonded labourers were working in sugarcane fields at Keezhathur village in the district. They are from Villupuram and Cuddalore districts, and Puducherry.
The labourers were rescued following a complaint received by Adivasi Thozhamai Kazhagam. The Kazhagam deputed its coordinator Kanniappan who, after a search in parts of the State, located them at Keezhathur.
Enquiries revealed that the workers had taken about Rs.3,000 and were working as agricultural labourers for harvesting sugarcane in the fields. Muthumari, Revenue Divisional Officer, conducted an enquiry and released the labourers. They were all lodged in a school under the custody of the district administration. C. Manoharan, Collector, made special arrangements for the return of the bonded labourers to their native villages .
