A factory owner and three of his associates have been charged with kidnapping and confining a former employee who resigned after his wages were withheld. The incident occurred in Ludhiana, Punjab.
Jitender Kumar, a labourer from Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh, had worked at a private factory near Cheema Chowk for a decade. The facility is owned by local businessman Harvinder Singh.
According to the police complaint, Harvinder Singh repeatedly refused to clear Jitender's outstanding financial dues. Frustrated by the nonpayment, Jitender resigned on April 14. The factory owner allegedly threatened the labourer to force his return to the production line, but Jitender refused.
The dispute escalated on June 12 near a commercial sector in Paddi village. Jitender alleged that Harvinder Singh, along with factory employees Neeraj Kumar and Anil Kumar, intercepted him, forced him into a vehicle, and drove him back to the factory.
Once inside, the men allegedly locked Jitender away, subjected him to verbal abuse, and threatened him with severe violence. The suspects later released the labourer on the strict condition that he remain silent and not report the incident to police. However, Jitender went directly to the police instead.
Dehlon police station officials have registered a first-information report (FIR) against Harvinder Singh, Neeraj Kumar, Anil Kumar, and a fourth suspect, Rohit. The four men face multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including kidnapping with intent to confine someone secretly and wrongfully, criminal intimidation, and acts committed with common intention.
An investigation is underway, and police have not yet confirmed any arrests.
