Five of family, kept as bonded labourers for years, rescued

Chennai

Valliappan (38) of Tirukazhukundram, who belongs to a tribal community, had borrowed Rs 1,000 from a man in the same locality five years ago. Since he did not repay the money, Valliappan, along with his wife Mallika (30) and children were taken to a woodcutting unit in Vilakam village near Tirukazhukundram and kept as bonded labourers.

They were not allowed to go outside and were paid only Rs 150 for a week to manage food and other expenses. In the five years of secluded life, Mallika also gave birth to two children.

Valliappan had asked the woodcutting unit in-charge to release his family since they could not sustain for Rs 150 a week. He was then asked to pay Rs 50,000 and threatened that if he did not pay even his children will have to work there for life.

Meanwhile, the news reached an NGO who contacted Chengalpattu Collector A John Louis. The Collector ordered RDO Lakshmi Priya to rescue the family and on Friday morning, the RDO, along with police and other officials, visited the spot and rescued the family. They were taken to Tirukazhukundram taluk office and provided with food, new clothes. After a medical check, arrangements were made to send them to their native. They will be provided with all government schemes to start their own life, officials said.

Police are searching for the woodcutting in-charge and employees who went missing on Friday morning.