Nuapada: Twenty-one labourers from Komna area of Odisha’s Nuapada district have allegedly been held captive and tortured by a brick kiln owner in Telangana. Their families have urged the district administration to rescue them.
According to sources, a labour contractor of Kantabanji, Chandan Kandi had taken 21 people of Paynr village under Komna block to Telangana three months ago for jobs. They were engaged in a brick kiln in Mehboobnagar area.
Their families alleged that the brick kiln owner started physically and mentally torturing the migrants and forced them to work overtime. It was also alleged that the workers are held captive by the brick kiln owner.
Markand Jagat, a relative of one of the migrants, claimed, “These people told us over phone that they are being tortured, abused and forced to work overtime. They are threatened and not given proper food.”
Meanwhile, the family members of these migrant workers led by Rabi Mangaraj, leader of a local outfit Gariba Sena, met Nuapada Collector Hema Kanta Say and the district labour officer. They demanded immediate steps to rescue the stranded migrants.
The family members said that the district labour officer has assured them that necessary steps will be taken to rescue the labourers held captive Telangana.
