Twelve tribals tortured in Gujarat as dadan labourers

Baripada, Sep 11 (UNI) At least twelve tribal youngsters were tortured and forced to work under unfavourable conditions as dadan labourers in the far-flung areas in Gujarat for jobs.

The tribals,all residents of remote Badligaon and Angaragadia under Badasahi police station of Mayurbhanj district were illegally recruited and drafted by three contractors of Balugaob area.

The contractors,sources said neither had registration nor a valid license to recruit migrant workers.The tribals were lured by promises of hefty wages and favourable working conditions at the time of recruitment by the contractors.

However, a timely intervention of Mayurbhanj district collector S.K.Vashishth, eleven out of the twelve migrant workers have returned to their respective villages.

The Collector had written to the Collector of Vaishad (Gujarat) for ensuring safe return of the workers to their villages. The youngest among the migrant workers who were taken for a ride to Gujarat was 18 year old.

Sources said the district authority has been contemplating to initiate actions against the contractors responsible for illegal recruitment of ''dadan'' workers under the provisions of the State Migrant Workmen Act after an enquiry.

UNI