Pramesh S Jain & Yogesh K Porwar
A Day after police and officials of the revenue department rescued a 24-year-old labourer from the silk factory for chained and detained for nine days forcing him to work,the labour department officials visited the factory premises and recorded the statement of 20 workers to check about irregularities.
The police on Monday raided SIU Silks Factory situated in Mehaboob nagara,Ramanagara Town and rescued Mohammed Waseem who has been chained and forced to work for nine days day and night to recover the 1.5 lakh loan he had taken from the owner .
Inquiries revealed that Waseem had joined the factory five months ago and advance amount of Rs.1.5 lakh emergency purpose.
Due to unavoidable circumstances Waseem could not attend work for a month and later went to work nine days ago to resume duty.
Enraged by this the factory owner Syed Isam and supervisor Syed Amjad detained him illegally and chained him in the factory premises informing him to work until he clears the dues.
Based on the information,a team of officials led by Ramanagar town police and Shabeen Taj,Shirastedar, Revenue Dept,Ramanagara Taluk,raided the factory and rescued Waseem and arrested the Isam and Amjad.
The duo have been charged with Bonded labour abolition act and also under section 343 (wrongful confinement ) 374 ( unlawful compulsory labour ) of IPC against them.
Waseem was found chained to a iron stairs situated inside the factory premises at the steaming unit.
Waseem was made to sleep under the stairs and the police found the key of the lock next to the electric panel board .
The police removed the chains and sent Waseem for medical treatment as he was exhausted a senior officer said.
On Wednesday officials of the labour department visited SIU Silks Factory,a silk reeling unit and conducted inspection.
The officials recorded the statement of 20 workers including 15 male and 5 female workers and found that the factory have not maintained any records .
Inspection revealed that though the factory had official weekly holiday on Friday,they did not have any records including employees details,salary disbursement, allowance and other benefits entitled for workers.
The officials have issued a notice to the owner of the factory to furnish the records including the salary given to Waseem so far.
The mentioned documents should be submitted within a week failing which legal action under labour act will be initiated,a notice to Isam,stated.
