A brave escape leads to 12 rescued from slavery in India

Twelve factory workers in India have been rescued from bonded labor after a brave worker escaped and alerted authorities.

Police raided a disposable bowl and paper plate factory in Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, where the employer allegedly held workers, including minors, against their will, withheld their wages, and subjected them to prolonged abuse. Some had been there for one and a half years.

Workers lured with false promises of employment

The situation came to light on June 22 when Vikram, a laborer from Rajasthan Jodhpur, climbed over the boundary wall of the factory and made his way to the police station.

His complaints prompted authorities to act swiftly.

The Hindustan Times reports:

(Senior superintendent of police) Verma said the workers were allegedly lured from railway stations, bus stands and other public places with promises of jobs, salaries, food and accommodation. Once brought to the factory, their mobile phones and identity documents were allegedly taken away, leaving them unable to contact their families or leave the premises.

The rescued workers came from several states across India and Nepal. Investigators believe some had been held at the factory for as long as 18 months.

Beaten for resisting work—even when sick

The case is one of many in the ongoing challenge of bonded labor in India, where workers can become trapped through deception, debt and coercion despite legal protections.

Survivors told police that the factory’s operators forced them to work from around 4 am until nearly midnight each day.

Operators allegedly beat workers who fell ill or resisted with iron rods, sticks, and fan belts.

According to Verma:

Any attempt to escape or protest was met with brutal violence.

Medical examinations reportedly found bruises, cuts, fractures and other injuries consistent with prolonged physical abuse. Police have also opened an investigation into whether some workers may have died inside the factory because of poor living conditions and a lack of medical treatment.

They also reportedly used pit bull dogs to intimidate workers and prevent escape attempts.

Survivors also said the operators provided very little food, forcing many to survive on bran rotis typically used as cattle feed.

Calls for justice and worker protection

Police have charged the factory owner, his father, and factory supervisor for human trafficking, bonded labor, and murder. They say the investigation extends beyond the factory where they rescued the workers.

However, as the investigation continues, the case has renewed concerns about the persistence of bonded labor in India and the vulnerability of workers to exploitation despite existing legal protections.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a social media post:

This is an attack on human dignity. The victims should be provided justice along with rehabilitation and the accused should be given the strictest possible punishment.

This case is a reminder that exploitation continues when it goes unchecked. Take a stand today by signing our petition and sending a clear message to businesses that profiting from modern slavery will not be tolerated.