High Court frees 53 bonded labourers
By M. Hussain Khan
HYDERABAD, June 4: The in-charge judge, sessions courts Hyderabad, freed 53 kiln workers on Wednesday who were recovered by police in a raid. Their colleagues had filed separate applications against forced labour.
The judge also ordered the SHOs of Tandojam and Husri police to record the statements of freed labourers and lodge FIRs against kiln owners if a cognizable offence was made. Medical examination of some was also ordered by the court.
Mohammad Umar, Moha-mmad Boto, Sikandar Ali and Ali Nawaz filed separate criminal miscellaneous applications under sections 491 Cr.PC. Local Chapter of the Society for Protection and Rehabilitation of Child (Sparc) provided legal services.
The court on Tuesday ordered the SHOs of Tandojam and Husri police stations to raid places mentioned in the application recover detenues and produce them before the court. Police on Wednesday produced 53-detenues as per order.
Applications were filed against Shahzad Pathan, Abdul Sattar, Bishar Khan and Abdullah Khan regarding detaining workers at Asif Brick Kiln Company Sheikh Bhirkio Road; Taj Brick Kiln Company in Mir Mohammad Kalri village; VIP Brick Kiln Company in Guajla Morri; and Hakeem brick Kiln Company Sheikh Bhirkio Road.
Except for the number of detenues, contents of applications were identical. It was stated by applicants that they were hired for job by owners for different periods. The applicants included women and even 10-year-olds.
Owners got angered and deputed armed men to watch movements of workers when they demanded their dues, said victims. Applicants were said to have left the area in darkness while detainees were kept at the mentioned places.
They prayed the court to direct any magistrate to ensure recovery of detainees or direct the DPO Hyderabad or concerned SHO to ensure their production along with their belongings, house-hold articles before the court.
Detainees produced by Husri police complained of maltreatment, the court directed police to get them medically examined in hospital. It said statements of 53-detenues should be recorded and if a cognizable offence was made then FIRs should be lodged.
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