Death of tribal woman, newborn: Timber mill owner arrested for bonded labour

CHENNAI: The owner of a timber unit was arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act after a tribal woman and her newborn baby died after she was not allowed to be taken to a hospital in time for delivery.

Around six months ago, Arumugam, who runs a timber unit in Vella Gate in Kancheepuram, had given Rs 20,000 as an advance to Anand and his wife Thenmozhi hailing from a tribal community in Singadivakkam. The couple was brought to his timber shop, where they stayed and cut wood.

Thenmozhi, who was pregnant, developed labour pain on September 8 and gave birth inside the tent. But both the mother and newborn baby died. Anand claimed that the timber unit owner prevented his pregnant wife from going to the hospital and put pressure on her to continue working. He added that they were told they could go to the hospital only after repaying the debt.

Anand also accused Arumugam of failing to pay proper wages and treating them like bonded labourers. After Thenmozhi died, the mill owner gave him Rs 2,000 and told him not to escalate the incident, he alleged.

Following the deaths, Anand and his relatives staged a protest at Ponnerikarai police station. The District Collector directed revenue officials to conduct a detailed inquiry and take appropriate action. Following that, the Superintendent of Police also instructed the Ponnerikarai police to conduct a thorough investigation and take necessary action.

Following the inquiry, police registered an FIR against Arumugam under the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, in connection with the deaths and also over allegations that workers were being subjected to bonded labour conditions.