24 Nepali bonded labourers rescued from carpet unit

Bhadohi, Jun 9 (UNI) A local carpet manufacturing unit was raided and at least 24 Nepali bonded labourers, including several minors, rescued.

The female labourers have also alleged rape by the unit owner and his son on a regular basis.

An Allahabad-based NGO had complained about the carpet unit run by Jabbar Sheikh at Sarai Jagdish in Gopiganj area.

The raid was conducted last night in a joint operation of the district administration and assistant labour commissioner O P Gupta.

Those rescued included several women and girls, besides 13 infants of the labourers, Mr Gupta informed.

Rajesh, Kamar Singh, Govind, Sheela, Sumitra, Kishna, Sandeep, Veer, Bahadur, Kamla, Vimla, Renu Kumar, Ramila, Kishan Prasad, Paudal, Basanti, Pancham, Ranjita, Rahul, Suraj, Raju, Preeti, Gudia and Sujita were rescued from a dark room.

Later, they were taken to Gyanpur tehsil, where Sumitra disclosed sexual expoitation by Sheikh and his son.

She claimed they were not fed properly and given merely Rs 500 in place of promised wages of Rs 1,500.

Sumitra further alleged they had been held ''prisoner'' for the last 10 yrs and not allowed to venture out. The bonded labourers were deprived of food if they raised their voice, she added.

Meanwhile, Sheikh has been arrested and police investigations are on.

UNI