47 bonded labourers from Bihar, Assam rescued from Tamil Nadu mill

It was freedom on the eve of Independence Day for 47 bonded labourers from Bihar, Assam and Orissa as they were rescued by district officials from a textile mill here.

Acting on an information provided by Bihar government, a team of revenue officials yesterday visited the mill in suburban Asokapuram area and rescued the labourers -- all aged between 17 and 21, officials said today.

38 of the labourers were from Bihar, eight from Assam and one from Orissa, they said, adding a hunt was on for the mill owner who is absconding.

The rescued labourers told the officials that the owner had promised to pay them Rs 100 as daily wage besides free food when they joined the mill three months ago. They were provided free residential sheds inside the mill. 

But, for the past one week no salary was paid to them and when they questioned the mill owner he allegedly thrashed eight of the workers, causing minor injuries, they said. 

Four of the workers managed to escape and informed their families back home, which in turn, alerted the Bihar government. The government then yesterday faxed a message to Erode district collector R Sudalaikannan about the matter.

On instructions from the collector, Erode Tahsildar Paneerselvam, along with a team of officials, visited the mill and rescued the workers, officials said.