33 Trafficked Odisha Labourers Rescued From Telangana

Bargarh: At least 33 labourers from Odisha, who were trafficked to Telangana by a broker on the pretext of employment, have been rescued by the Odisha Labour Department from Pandulapalli village under Peddapalli district of the neighbouring state.

The Labour Department was alerted about trafficking after one of the trafficked labourers shot a video on his mobile phone and sent it to his family members.

The workers identified as residents of Jogendranathpur village under Paikmal block of Odisha’s Bargarh district were taken to Telangana for working in a brick kiln. But the employer tortured them and didn’t allow them to return to their hometown.

Speaking about the agony, a victim said, “The staff of the employer used to beat us upon applying for leave and forced us to work long hours. We were not getting paid regularly.”

Out of the 35 labourers, the Odisha and Telengana governments have managed to rescue 33. Rescue operation for the remaining two, Kulamani Bariha and Jalandhar is in progress.