Police rescue enslaved woman, child abducted by brick kiln owner

The Ramanagar rural police, along with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the CID, have rescued a 24-year-old woman and her one-year-old child from a brick kiln in Chamundipura in Ramanagar.

The police said they raided the kiln and rescued Jyothi (name changed) and her child and arrested the kiln owner Seenappa.

According to the police, on November 23, Jagadish (name changed), along with his wife and child, went to a hospital in Ramanagar.

A few men, who are said to be Seenappa's associates, spotted the family and abducted Jyothi and her child, while Jagadish managed to flee the spot.

He tried looking for them, but in vain, and later approached the police and the AHTU and informed them about the abduction.

The police and the AHTU raided the kiln and rescued Jyothi and her child.
A few months ago, the couple had escaped from the kiln fearing for their life as they were constantly abused by the owner.

In a statement given to the AHTU and the police, the couple said Jyothi was born in the kiln where her parents worked as bonded labourers and she continued to work in the same kiln.

Husband “purchased”
Her husband Jagadish was “purchased” for Rs 40,000 from another brick kiln, as he had borrowed the money from the owner for his sister's wedding.

As he could not repay the loan, he was sold for the same amount to Seenappa.
Seenappa told him that he had to pay him Rs 40,000 before he could leave the place. They had to work in the kiln from 5 am to 7 pm daily. They had to make 1,000 bricks a day, failing which they were abused and beaten up.

They were paid between Rs 21 and Rs 36 per day, although the minimum wage for a brick kiln worker, according to the Minimum Wage Act, is Rs 252 per day, they added.
The couple also mentioned that their salary was not sufficient to buy even basic commodities.

Miscarriage
Three years ago, Jyothi had a miscarriage as the owner forced her to work despite her being seven months pregnant.

The owner forced Jyothi to start working just two months after she gave birth to her child. Jyothi and Jagadish informed the owner that they had worked for nine years and had cleared the debt of Rs 40,000.

However, Seenappa refused to let them go and threatened to kill them.
Fearing for their life, they fled the spot  after which Jyothi and her child were abducted by Seenappa’s men and brought back to the kiln.