Bangalore: Five minor boys from Nepal, who were locked inside a small room and forced to perform hard physical labour, were rescued by sleuths belonging to the Anti Human Trafficking unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Ten other minor boys from Bihar were also rescued by the CID sleuths. The programme co-ordinator of a child rights' protection group informed the CID sleuths about the bonded child labour at two leather bag manufacturing units on M R Lane at Nalabandavadi in Cottonpet.
Based on the tip-off, the CID sleuths along with members of the women and child welfare department raided the two factory premises on Thursday and rescued child labourers from their bondage.
The victims have told the police that they were paid a paltry sum of Rs 2,000 per month and were made to work from 7 am to 8 pm. “These boys were brought to the city by some agents, who had assured their parents that they would be paid a good salary for menial work.
However, the victims were never given an opportunity to move around outside or to even speak to the neighbours. They were locked inside the rooms, where they had to work, eat, and sleep,” said the officers of the Anti-Human Trafficking unit.
The factories were on the first and second floors of the same building on Cottonpet main road. The place where the victims worked was extremely unhygienic and posed a great risk to their health.
Some of these minors have even developed skin-related problems due to prolonged exposure to toxins, the officers added.
The rescued boys were between the age of 10 and 15 years. They have been handed over to an NGO and have been given medical care. The parents of the victims have been informed, the officers said.
Based on the statements of the victims, it has been found that they were employed by five men named Pervez Alam, Memiraj, Sheikh Muzamilm, Mohammed Tajmal, and Mohammed Pervez. These persons have been booked under various sections of the IPC, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act and Juvenile Justice Act.
