No fresh FIR in potato farm case; didn’t employ kids: Owner

Two days after 11 children were rescued from a potato farm at Brindpur in Kapurthala, the state police were yet to file a fresh FIR against the owner.

Though two FIRs were registered against two contractors in Bihar on the charges of child labour and sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl, the state police were yet to act.

When contacted, Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said, "An FIR was lodged in Punjab after a raid on the same farm in November. We are in the process of filing a chargesheet in that case."

DSP Deep Karan Singh said, "The first complaint against Bigan Rai (one of the contractors) received on November 21, following which the farm was raided and eight persons, including a minor, were rescued. The information regarding the FIRs in Bihar was received on Sunday. After a verification, we will also file an FIR."

Meanwhile, Teja Singh (82), the owner of the farm who is at the centre of the controversy involving employment of child labour at his Pehalwan Farms, rejected the charges.

An FIR was filed against Teja Singh at Sadar police station on December 25, pertaining to a raid in November) under Section 3 of the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986 for employing a child labour. The contractor employed at his farm is absconding. Two FIRs were filed against the contractor (Bigan Rai) in Bihar.

A former lightweight wrestler, Teja Singh said he was distraught at the charges levelled against him. "Asi ration, paisa, ghar ditta, Chatth Puja rakhvai… par sadde te galat ilazam lag gya. (We gave ration, money and accommodation, and organised Chath Puja for them, but they levelled false charges against us)," he said.

Talking to The Tribune, Teja Singh claimed he first got to know about Bigan Rai from another potato farmer and had no inkling about his involvement in criminal cases.

Standing outside his palatial 3 kanal house in the middle of potato fields at Brindpur village, Teja Singh said, "Bigan had employed many labourers in our farms. We paid him Rs 7-8 lakh this season. Labourers from Bihar live with their children. He didn't tell us he had also employed them. We are not aware of the 16-18 work hours or the sexual abuse charge. We have many CCTV cameras installed at the farms. This has never happened."