Mumbai: 16-year-old child labourer dials control room, gets himself freed

A 16-year-old boy called the police control room on Saturday to inform the cops that he had been confined to a flat at Marine Drive and was being forced to work. A police team then rescued the boy and also arrested his uncle, Bihar resident Jalals Saafi, who had left him there to be employed by a businessman.

According to the police, they received a call at the main control room from an unknown number around 3.30 pm on Saturday. The caller claimed he was locked in a flat and was being forced to work against his wish. The caller also gave the address from where he was calling.

The information was immediately relayed to the Marine Drive police. A team then reached the flat in the Firdaus Building at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road and rescued the boy.

"He told us he was 16 years old and was brought to Mumbai from Bihar by his uncle Saafi. Saafi got him employed with a businessman for Rs 5,000 per month. The boy also said he did not wish to work and wanted to return home. Based on his statement, we have arrested Saafi and booked him under relevant sections of the Child Labour Act. We have not taken any action against the employers as yet, though they have been named by the boy in his complaint," said an officer from the Marine Drive police station.