Case primary details

Fact finding date

Case Incident details

Case summary

1. That Volunteers for Social Justice (“VSJ”), a registered charity, is a social action group working for the eradication of the bonded labour system in the State of Punjab for over 3 decades.
2. That, VSJ has received information through one Smt Sukhwiner Kaur W/o Nirmal Singh, a former staff member of VSJ and an activist working in Tarn Taran that a family of bonded labourers, released earlier in 2015 were attacked by the former employers and bonded keepers on 29^th December 2015. The full information of the case as received by the undersigned on visit to the spot and meeting with bonded labourers is given hereunder;

                                 I.            Details of victims and alleged perpetrators:

Bonded Labour Family:

1. Rasal Singh
2. Dalbir Kaur, wife of Rasal Singh
3. Paramjeet Kaur, Daughter – aged 14
4. Manpreet Kaur, Daughter – aged 12
5. Amritpal Kaur, Daughter – aged 10
6. Kirandeep Kaur, Daughter – aged 08
7. Gursharan Singh, son – aged 9

Caste: Mazhabi Sikh (Scheduled Caste in the State of Punjab)

Permanent Address: Village Narli, Tehsil Patti, District Tarn Taran.

Place of incidence: Village Narli, Tehsil Patti, District Tarn Taran.

Accused / Perpetrators

1. Owners/Occupiers and all partners of the brick kiln M/s GURSEWAK BRICKS INDUSTRY
2. Bakhshish Singh S/o Jarnail Singh
3. Tarlok Singh S/o Jarnail Singh
4. Balwinder Kaur W/o Bakshish Singh
5. Bobby S/o Bakshish Singh

Permanent Address: Village Marhi Udho under police station Khalra, Distt Tarn Taran

Caste: Jat Sikh

Timeline:

1. That, presently, the victims are fighting for their lives even they face there is an imminent threat from the perpetrators for further attacks.
2. The perpetrators are not ordinary citizens but the undersigned has been informed by the victims and residents of the village that they are international drug smugglers though the Indo-Pak border and enjoy cordial relations with the local police.
3. That, no FIR has been thus far registered.
4. That, the facts reveal grave violation of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Whereas, due to the influence exerted by the perpetrators over the local police, there is no action taken against them thus far in spite of such an inhumane act of such gruesome scale has been committed by them. There is complete lack of protection by the State of the life and liberty of the bonded labourers guaranteed to every citizen of this country.

Therefore, in the light of the facts mentioned above, it is most humbly prayed to the Hon’ble Commission to most graciously grant the humble prayer as below;

                                                                                                                                            i.                        The victims be granted financial assistance immediately so that the life of the victims is preserved.

                                                                                                                                          ii.                        An FIR be registered against the perpetrators under the relevant provisions of the Law as mentioned in Paragraph 6 Supra.

                                                                                                                                        iii.                        Protection be given to the victims both at the hospital as well as the home of the victims in their village

                                                                                                                                      iv.                        Any other relief that your Hon’ble deems fit and proper be given to the bonded labour family.