Twenty-six persons from Kondagon district in Chhattisgarh, who were employed as bonded labourers in various private units in Modakurichi Taluk, were rescued by the officials here on Friday and Saturday.
Mangubahael (32), a school teacher, lodged a complaint with the Kondagon Collector that his wife Sona Thaiyal was missing from home since July 7, 2018. The Collector forwarded the complaint to the police whose inquiries revealed that many people from the district were working in Erode and Namakkal districts.
Following this, an official team from Kondagon approached the Erode District Collector C. Kathiravan seeking help to trace her.
A team led by Erode RDO (in-charge) Elango, Modakurichi Tahsildar A. Asharabunnisha, Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) D. Balathandautham and other officials inspected all the private units functioning at Ellakadai, Avalpoondurai and Thanathampalayam villages and found people from Kondagon district employed as bonded labourers. However, Sona Thaiyal could not be traced.
Since children were among the rescued, they were subjected to medical examination at the District Headquarters Hospital on Saturday to ascertain their age. Officials said that compensation would be given to the families. The rescued workers will be sent home after issuance of release order.
The officials said that complaints would be lodged against the unit owners and action would be taken.
