Bolangir, Oct 4: In a significant operation, 55 bonded laborers, including 25 men, 16 women, and 14 children, were rescued by an independent police team from Bolangir district, Odisha, late last night. The raid took place at the residence of a bonded labor contractor in the Dhubapada area of Kantabanji.
According to reports, the Bolangir Superintendent of Police (SP) received information from an undisclosed source about the illegal detention of bonded laborers. Acting swiftly, the SP formed an independent police team, including an additional SP, and carried out a raid on the house of a notorious bonded labor contractor, Arjun Behera, in the Kantabanji area.
During the raid, the police successfully rescued 55 bonded laborers from various districts, including Bolangir and neighboring areas. The laborers had been subjected to harsh working conditions under forced labor, and many of them were reportedly kept in captivity.
Among the rescued were 25 men, 16 women, and 14 children, who were being held in inhumane conditions. Arjun Behera's son, Prakash, reportedly fled the scene upon noticing the police raid, but the police are continuing their investigations. Authorities have begun interrogating the rescued individuals to further understand the circumstances surrounding their captivity.
The police operation has shed light on the ongoing issue of bonded labor in the region, and authorities are taking further steps to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of the victims.
Tags: Odisha
