Eight of 10 Odia youths of Sundargarh district, who had been trafficked and engaged as bonded labourers in Himachal Pradesh, managed to flee their work places to home but two youths are still in their work place living in agony as bonded labourers
Sanjay Sethi(30) of Birbira village under Sadar block was trapped by two agents identified as Anil Patel of Birbira village and Raju Naik of Talsara , who sold him at Rs 20,000. Sanjay was engaged in one place and he worked there for 35 days but was not paid his salary.
He was beaten severely often. Finding no other alternative, Sanjay fled and recently reached his home in Sundargarh.
Along with Sanjay, nine more poor Odias, had been trapped by these two agents Anil Patel and Raju Naik, who had lured these youths to give employment in Himachal Pradesh with monthly salary of Rs 12,000. All these youths had agreed and had gone with both the agents on May 23 to Himachal Pradesh.
After reaching there on May 27, both agents had sold these youths to a agent there with amount ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 each. The agents had taken money but these youths had no idea about their being sold.
The trafficked youths had been engaged at Kulu area and Bhuntar area in a motel and an apple garden in Himachal Pradesh. They were being forced to work but after working for some days, the youths were not paid. later, the youths came to know that they have been sold. Since these ten youths had been engaged in different places, they could not get chance to contact each other. First, Sushil Patel managed to flee from his work place and reached his home in Sundargarh. The family members of Sushil along with other family members of the trafficked youths of Birbira village went to Dharuadih police station on June 20 to lodge complaint but the police had not taken any action.
later, seven youths including Sanjay had managed to flee from their work place in different times and had reached their home in Sundargarh. However, Arun and Tankadhar of Birbira village, have not yet reached their home and are languishing at their work place..
The family members of the two youths are in fear.