Bonded labourers rescued in Maduranthagam

The arrested person was identified as V Sumithra (35) from Melmaruvathur, who supplied wood to factories, police said.

The action came after the local vigilance committee alerted the Revenue Divisional Officer, Malathi, that the particular unit, located in Seiyur village near Maduranthagam, was using bonded labourers.

Following the tip off, a team of Revenue officials and police officers from Annaikattu police went to the woodcutting unit on Monday morning.

There, they found the seven bonded workers.

Police said the labours were being paid only a paltry Rs 20 as wage for a day.

They had to work the whole day and night, and were threatened and even beaten up when they dared to question the owner.

Revenue officials rescued Kumar (40) and his wife kasthuri (35) hailing from Manamathi village, and Murugesan (50) his wife chithra (45) and son Chandru (18) from Peru Nagar, both near Uthiramerur; and Deva (20) and Satish Kumar (22) from Maduranthagam. Later all the seven were sent to their native villages.