Taking cognisance of media reports alleging that Avtar Singh committed suicide two months ago and his wife was being forced to end up as a bonded labourer to pay debts, the NHRC directed District Magistrate of Patiala to probe the matter.
Avtar had "sold" himself and his wife as bonded labourers against a loan of Rs 45,000 four years ago, to the village landlord, an NHRC spokesperson said quoting media reports.
"After his death, his wife along with her minor son Gurpreet escaped from the farm, but, last week her landlord found her and asked her to return his money with interest. She remains ex-communicated from the village until she paid the landlord who had also threatened to take away her utensils and a broken cot," the spokesperson said.