Bolangir: Despite the tall claims of the State government on strict enforcement of laws to curb the trafficking of people to and from Odisha to work as migrant labourers, the illegal activities continue unabated in the district.
In another such case, as many as 29 migrant workers including eight children and 11 women were rescued by the Odisha police while they were being transported to the Kantabanji railway station, on Monday night.
They were reportedly trafficked by a contractor to Andhra Pradesh where they would be made to work as labourers in brick kilns.
Based on reliable information during night patrolling, the Bangomunda police intercepted the vehicles carrying the labourers at Chhatarang village while they were being taken to Kantabanji railway station. The police team confiscated the documents and rescued all the people.
“We have no employment opportunity in the village. It’s becoming hard for us to earn our livelihood here. Government is also not providing us any work. Therefore, we are forced to migrate to Andhra Pradesh to work in the brick kilns there,” said a migrant worker.
Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation into the incident.
Earlier last week, as many as 21 migrant labourers including four women and 17 men had been rescued from Kantabanji railway station while they were being trafficked to Hyderabad.
Similarly on November 14, 56 migrant labourers including 23 women and eight children had been rescued from the same railway station.