4 bonded labourers rescued from dairy

Tribune News Service 

Amritsar, December 9

Following a tip-off, the Amritsar (rural) police have rescued four persons, including a migrant, who were kept as bonded labourers at a dairy in Jheeta Kalan village here on Sunday evening. 

All victims were mentally unsound. One of them has been in the illegal detention for the past one year. They narrated their tale of woes to the police and the villagers, including sarpanch Baldev Singh. The dairy owners have been identified as Balwant Singh, Baljit Singh and Balkar Singh. 

A raid at the dairy complex was conducted by Chatiwind police station SHO Sardool Singh. The victims told the police that the dairy owners used to put them in chains in the night while in the morning, they were asked to tend to animals and do other menial jobs. They said they were also physically thrashed by the dairy owners. 

One of them said he has been staying there for past one year. He said the dairy owners brought him from near Guruwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh. Another person said he was resident of Anngarh area and has been there for the past three months. A migrant said the dairy owners lured him in the name of healthy food and handsome money. He has been there for the past four months. The fourth victim appeared to be mentally challenged and is yet to be identified.

Sarpanch Baldev Singh said the victims were being kept in inhuman conditions. They were locked in a room and chained. They answered nature’s call in the same room, which was located near the dairy. He urged the police to take a stern action against the dairy owners to send a message. Attari DSP Gurpartap Singh Sahota said a case under Sections 344 and 34 of the IPC against three dairy owners, while further investigation was underway.