Seven Assam Youths Rescued from Abusive Conditions in Arunachal Pradesh
Rescue Operation Uncovers Harrowing Conditions
Seven rescued Assam youths from deplorable conditions in Arunachal Pradesh (Photo: AT)
Sadiya, June 9: Seven young individuals from the Mising community in Assam's Sadiya subdivision were rescued from a construction site in Arunachal Pradesh, where they reportedly faced severe physical abuse, starvation, and inhumane working conditions.
The rescue took place on Monday, led by members of the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) and the Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK), following alerts from the workers' families and the workers themselves regarding their dire situation.
One of the rescued individuals recounted that they were brought to the site by a person named Nigam Doley and endured continuous mistreatment during their time there.
"We went without food for two days. When we attempted to leave in search of something to eat, we were forcibly returned and assaulted. They threatened us with machetes and compelled us to work day and night," he stated.
According to TMPK, the youths from the Amarpur area were misled by local middlemen with false promises of employment and were later employed under a contractor at a culvert construction site associated with the Lower Dibang Hydroelectric Project in Roing.
Rescue team members reported visible injuries on several workers, allegedly inflicted through repeated beatings, including assaults with iron rods.
"Upon receiving the information, we rushed to the site. What we found was shocking; the workers were being forced into labor under conditions worse than those for animals. They had not eaten for two days yet were still made to work," claimed Binod Dao, TMPK Sadiya district president.
Dao further accused certain local contractors of exploiting unemployed youths by enticing them with promises of financial stability before sending them to work sites in Arunachal Pradesh.
"The main perpetrators of these arrangements are a few contractors in Sadiya. They benefit financially while the workers receive only a small portion of the earnings. This is not an isolated incident; we have witnessed similar cases before," he added.
TMPK reported that they spent approximately Rs 60,000 to return the rescued workers home and have initiated efforts to identify and locate the contractors and intermediaries involved in recruiting and transporting these youths.
Another TMPK member claimed that workers from Assam frequently face exploitation at various work sites in Arunachal Pradesh.
"They are brought in as laborers but are treated inhumanely. We urge both youths and their families to be cautious and verify job offers before accepting them. We also call on the government to tackle unemployment to prevent young people from falling into such precarious situations," he remarked.
In their appeal to the Assam government, TMPK members demanded a comprehensive investigation and stringent action against those responsible for the alleged exploitation.