Days after OTV reported the plight of an Odia migrant worker and the alleged detention of his minor daughter by a labour contractor and a brick kiln owner in Telangana, Belapada police in Bolangir district arrested the accused identified as Sambharu Banchhor, a resident of Tentulikhunti.
The accused was absconding after the media report that the minor girl was held captive for Rs 50,000, came to the fore. However, the brick kiln owner, the main accused, is still on the lam.
As per reports, Kahnu Mallick, a migrant labourer from Sulekela, had gone to Telangana along with four family members to work in a brick kiln two months ago. There Kahnu were taken ill due to alleged work pressure from the labour contractor.
It was alleged that the contractor used to torture the family. Kahnu’s condition deteriorated. As Kahnu’s wife strongly opposed the alleged oppression of the family, the brick kiln owner sent the family home, except Kanhu’s 11-year-old daughter. The brick kiln owner demanded Rs 50,000 from the family and held the girl as a ‘mortgage.’
Though the family claimed that Rs 50,000 was sent to the brick kiln owner, the latter did not release the girl. On the other hand, Kanhu who was worried about her daughter died after returning home.
Following media reports, Belapada police rescued the girl some days ago and arrested the labour contractor after a lot of search.