Over 32 bonded labourers including 12 minors were rescued from a brick-kiln manufacturing unit at Kanumpalli cross in Garladinne of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh. Based on the Collector's order, a team of officials from Revenue, Child Welfare and Labour Welfare departments along with police carried out a joint operation.
The alleged torture of minors and unhealthy work conditions came to the notice of the District Collector through human rights activists. According to officials, the brick kiln manufacturing unit is owned and operated by Shekar from Anantapur and Srinivas from Nellore.
Sushant Panigrahi, a rights activist and freelance journalist from Odisha, has written a mail to Anantapur District Collector and other officials concerned, of both the state governments of Andhra and Odisha.
All the rescued labourers belong to Khurlumuda village of Turekela block of Bolangir district in Odisha.