Two minor boys and a man---all natives of Odisha-- were today rescued from a plant manufacturing steel and aluminium components for global automobile companies located in Kancheepuram district, police said.
Acting on a complaint by the father of one of the boys, Kundrathur Police and staff from an NGO, International Justice Mission (IJM, conducted an operation and rescued the boys and a man working there as bonded labourers, they said.
The three hailing from Puri District in Odisha were allegedly denied freedom of movement and forced to work under threats from the contractor.In return for food, they had to work more than 12 hours a day with no pay at the manufacturing plant, they said.
The living conditions were deplorable with more than 20 labourers crammed in a room of approximately 100 square feet.
Earlier in November, a relative of one of the boys travelled to Tamil Nadu to rescue them. However, after he collected them, they were attacked at a bus station and the boys were forced to go back to the factory, sources said.
Later they lodged a complaint with the Odisha Goti Mukti Andolan and the National Human Rights Commission.
District administration officials conducted an inquiry and an age verification test, which confirmed that the boys were between 16 -17 years. They also received 'released' certificates along with initial rehabilitation amount of Rs.1000, officially identifying them as bonded labourers and entitling them to government rehabilitation funds, officials said.
Bonded labour is a human rights violation abolished by the Bonded Labour Abolition Act, 1976.
