Bonded labourers: Report a farce, says Tarn Taran SSP

Gurbaxpuri

Tarn Taran, April 3

Most of the sources in the border area of the district, including farmers, rejected reports that farmers in the state brought mentally challenged people from Bihar and UP and forced them into farm labour.

SSP Dhruman H Nimbale said not even a single such incident had been reported from the border areas of Khalra, Sarai Amanat Khan, Patti, Bhikhiwind, Valtoha and Khemkaran.

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“The report prepared by the BSF is far from facts. Seven such cases were brought to our notice and the district police conducted a detailed inquiry. Four of them were even medically examined and none was detected as a drug addict. Just one person was physically challenged and he was handed over to his parents,” Nimbale said.

The SSP said the BSF report was a farce as two of the seven persons apprehended were from Punjab, one from Maharashtra, one from Assam and three from UP. Two others were found to be suspicious and sent to jail.

He said there was no report of keeping them as bonded labourers or giving them drugs to make them work longer.

Daljit Singh Dialpur of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, also a resident of border area village Dialpur, said the BSF report were incorrect and just aimed at defaming the farmers’ agitation as it was being spearheaded by the leaders of Punjab.

Questioning the BSF report, he said it was neither a social organisation nor entrusted with the responsibility of conducting such a study. “I have never seen such a case anywhere. But if anybody is seen indulging in such human trafficking, he must be dealt with seriously according to the law,” he said.

Despite several attempts, Ferozepur range DIG Surinder Mehta could not be contacted for comment. Amritsar DIG Bhupinder Singh also refused to comment on the issue.