Sundargarh: A brick kiln owner has allegedly attacked an Odia labourer with acid and chopped off the fingers of another labourer in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, raising concerns over the rising atrocities against migrant labourers seeking employment outside.
The incident came to light when five of them managed to escape on Monday and lodged a complaint with the police. The acid attack survivor is believed to be in a critical condition and is undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Burla.
In their complaint, they have alleged that their employer started abusing them when they asked for their salaries. As many 12 workers of Hemagiri are working in the brick kiln in Andhra Pradesh.
“We worked for two and half month at Vizianagaram. When we asked for our salary, the owner used to beat us. He also threw acid on one of us,” said one migrant labourer.
Notably, seven other Odia labourers from the district are still captivated by the brick kiln owner.
The latest incident has brought to fore the vulnerability of migrants workers working across the country and abroad.
Last week, family members of three bonded labourers of Nuapada district lodged a police complaint, alleging that they have been held captive by the employer of a brick kiln in Andhra Pradesh.
In April this year, a labourer from Kendrapada alleged torture by company officials in Oman for failing to report to office due to ill-health.
In November last year, family members of 34 Odia labourers had appealed to Rayagada administration to rescue them from Kerala. Apparently they were held captive because they were bursting crackers to celebrate Diwali.
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