In a significant operation, officials from the revenue, police, and labor departments successfully liberated four individuals held as bonded laborers at Lingadakoppa in Dharwad district’s Kalaghatagi taluk this past Saturday.
The rescue unfolded after authorities received crucial intelligence. A coordinated team, including the tahasildar and representatives from the police and labor departments, swiftly raided a farm owned by Basavaraj Kattimani in Lingadakoppa village, where they discovered the exploited workers.
Investigations revealed that these four individuals hailed from the Chindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. They were initially recruited for sugarcane harvesting in Maharashtra, enticed by an advance payment of ₹5,000 each. However, their plight took a turn for the worse when they were allegedly transported to Lingadakoppa and coerced into working as farm laborers under duress.
The rescued laborers recounted harrowing experiences to the officials, detailing how they were forced into relentless work schedules and systematically denied any communication with their families, isolating them from their loved ones.
Following the rescue, a case was promptly filed under the stringent Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act of 1976. The primary accused identified were Sanjay Kalerama Kavareti, from Madhya Pradesh, and Lakshman Sugreeva Jadhav, from Maharashtra, who are believed to have orchestrated their trafficking from Madhya Pradesh.
Authorities have since ensured the well-being of the rescued workers, providing them with immediate temporary shelter, nourishing food, essential medical care, and a secure environment. The assistant commissioner confirmed plans to facilitate their safe return to their home village, including the provision of train tickets. They will also be equipped with release letters and documentation verifying their eligibility for compensation, aiding their reintegration into society.
This vital rescue operation was a collaborative effort, involving dedicated personnel from the revenue, police, social welfare, and labor departments, with invaluable support from the Belagavi-based Spandana NGO, underscoring a united front against human exploitation.