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Bonded labourer freed after 40 yrs from Chandigarh

Kathmandu, July 27
A Nepalese person, who was allegedly forced to work as a bonded labourer in a motor garage in Chandigarh for 40 years, has returned home after being “freed” by NGOs and the Indian police, Nepal’s official news agency RSS reported today.

Jayadhan Sarki of Thalara village in Bajhang district of Nepal, was 20 years old when he went to India in search of a job but was allegedly forced to live the life of a bonded labourer, it said.

He was confined to a single house with no permission to come outside. He managed to write only three letters back home in the past 40 years.

Acting on his third letter to his cousin, Janamorcha Nepal, a Communist party, secured Sarki’s release with the help of All-India Nepali Solidarity’s Chandigarh town committee and the Indian police.

“I was forced to stay inside a house surrounded by high walls. I was not allowed to talk to anyone and did not receive any remuneration,” Sarki said. He said his left hand had broken due to hazardous work, according to the news agency.

Sarki had left behind an 18-month-old son when he went to India. He came back to see that his son had already died. — PTI