For nearly two years, thirteen labourers went to a factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district on the promise of work, wages and a better life. Instead, the workers alleged they found themselves trapped inside its walls, stripped of their mobile phones and national identity documents, deprived of food, brutally beaten, and kept under the constant watch of two pit bull dogs used to prevent them from escaping.
A raid by joint teams from the Labour Department, police and local administration on Monday uncovered what officials described as a severe case of bonded labour at the tote-making factory. The rescued workers, who had been brought from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttarakhand, various districts of Uttar Pradesh, and even Nepal, alleged they were enticed with promises of decent wages but were subjected to months of torture upon arrival. They claimed their identity cards and mobile phones were immediately confiscated, cutting them off entirely from their families and making any escape attempt incredibly difficult.
The operation was triggered after one worker managed to break free from the facility and approached the police, informing authorities that numerous labourers were being held in forced confinement inside. Acting on this, enforcement teams launched a coordinated raid on the premises.
During the operation, officials rescued thirteen workers, identified as Ramu, Vikram, Narayan, Sitaram, Santosh, Shivam Jatav, Jagdish, Rajhans, Sahil, Ranjeet Paswan, Dilshad, Ujjwal and Sonu Chauhan. Two individuals, Shivam Tyagi and Pradeep Baliyan, were arrested at the scene. Police also recovered sticks and other weapons allegedly used to assault the staff.
The rescued men told officials that they had been lured to the factory around two years ago. Once inside, their phones and documents were taken, and they received no pay and barely any sustenance. According to their accounts, they were given dry bread just once every twenty-four hours and were repeatedly beaten if they questioned their treatment or tried to leave. The two pitbull dogs were allegedly stationed within the factory purely to intimidate them.
Several workers bore visible marks of torture on their bodies from the months of abuse. Police are also investigating disturbing claims that some labourers who had been held at the factory for prolonged periods died during their captivity. Whilst officials have not yet verified these deaths, they confirmed the allegations are being thoroughly examined as part of the wider criminal probe.
Following their rescue, the workers were taken for medical examinations and treatment. Officials welcomed them with traditional garlands before arranging transport for their safe return home. An investigation is ongoing, with further legal action expected as more evidence is gathered.
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