Seven Interstate Migrant Workers Rescued from Bonded Labour in Ahilyanagar Factory
In a shocking case of labour exploitation, seven interstate migrant workers have been rescued from bonded labour conditions at a wheel rim manufacturing unit located in the MIDC industrial area of Ahilyanagar. The workers, hailing from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, were allegedly confined for months, denied wages, and subjected to threats and physical abuse.
False Promises and Harsh Realities
The workers reported that they were recruited by local agents who promised supervisory jobs with monthly salaries ranging from ₹18,000 to ₹21,000. Instead, they were forced to work over 15 hours a day without any payment, with deductions made for food and accommodation from their supposed wages. Their mobile phones were confiscated, their movements were severely restricted, and they were locked inside cramped rooms at night. Any attempts to escape were met with brutal beatings and threats, creating a climate of fear and coercion.
Tragic Incident Involving a Minor
Among the rescued workers is Moti Singh, a 16-year-old boy from Jawaritola village in Chhattisgarh’s Korea district. Just two months after starting work, his right hand was caught in a machine, resulting in the severing of three fingers. The contractor allegedly provided only basic first aid and concealed the incident from authorities. Once the wound partially healed, Singh was forced to resume heavy loading work despite his severe injury. He remains traumatised and was unable to speak when contacted, highlighting the psychological toll of the abuse.
Escape and Rescue Operation
The rescue operation began on January 31, 2026, when Dhirendra Pratap Singh, 27, from Sidhi district in Madhya Pradesh, and the minor managed to escape. The minor retrieved his confiscated phone, searched online for assistance, and contacted the India Labourline at 1800 833 9020, run by Aajeevika Bureau. On February 3, the complainants met Sub Divisional Magistrate Sudhir Patil in Ahilyanagar. Rehabilitation certificates were issued, and a joint rescue team was formed, comprising labour department officials, MIDC police, and local revenue officers.
The following day, the team raided the factory and rescued five additional workers who were still trapped inside. An FIR was registered at the MIDC police station against contractor Ganesh Balasaheb Adao and supervisors Rajendra Yadav and Shahbaz Ali Mohammad Shaikh. The charges were filed under the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, 1976, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Other Rescued Workers and Legal Actions
The other rescued workers include Piyush Markam, 23, from Jabalpur; Ravi Gond, 17, from Chhattisgarh’s Korea district; Laxman Singh, 38, from Shahdol; Jagat Bahadur, 30, from Chhattisgarh’s Korea district; and Deepak Rajbhar, 24, from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. Advocate Pratik Pawar, who handled the case, stated that multiple indicators of bonded labour were present, including non-payment of wages, restriction of movement, confiscation of phones, coercion, and forcing an injured minor to continue heavy labour. He emphasized that these facts establish bonded labour beyond doubt, warranting strict action under both the Bonded Labour Act and the BNS.
Broader Implications and Compensation
Parag Kamble from India Labourline noted that the workers were trapped for months without wages, with their phones taken away and constant monitoring. He highlighted how agents lure workers with false promises and hand them over to contractors who exploit them. Officials from the Ahilyanagar labour department have sanctioned compensation of ₹30,000 for adults and ₹20,000 for minors, which will be credited once bank details are received. This case underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement of labour laws and protection mechanisms for vulnerable migrant workers across India.
