35 bonded labourers rescued from brick-kiln

Tribune News Service

Ambala, February 21

The district administration on Thursday rescued 35 bonded labourers, including minors, from a brick-kiln at Gokalgarh village of Mullana.

A team led by naib-tehsildar Amit Verma raided the brick-kiln and rescued them. According to information, the rescued people have been sent to their native place in Saharanpur of Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to The Tribune, Amit Verma said, “Following directions from the Barara SDM, a team was constituted and the brick-kiln was raided. Statements of the rescued have been recorded and they have been sent back to their native place in Saharanpur.”

An NGO had complained regarding this after which the raid was conducted.

Amit Verma said, “The rescued persons told the team that the brick-kiln owner was not paying salary to them. The brick-kiln owner has claimed that the rescued people were not bonded labourers and they were being provided all facilities. The SDM will send a report in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner  and action will be taken accordingly.”

The brick-kiln owner has refuted the allegations and claimed that the rescued people had taken money in advance and tried to escape by making such claims.   

The Claims 

• The rescued persons told the team that the brick-kiln owner was not paying salary to them. However, the brick-kiln owner said they had taken money in advance and tried to escape by making such claims.   
• An NGO had complained regarding this after which the brick-kiln at Gokalgarh village in Mullana was raided by a team led by naib-tehsildar Amit Verma.