Bonded Labour: Over 50 Victims, Including Children, Trapped in Moga

Bonded Labour Nightmare: Punjab’s Hidden Exploitation of Children and Adults

In the heart of Punjab, hidden beneath the guise of an innocent brick kiln, a grave injustice unfolds. Despite laws designed to protect children from exploitation, around two dozen young lives are trapped in the cruel cycle of bonded labour. These children, some as young as five, are working tirelessly in appalling conditions—long hours, hazardous environments, and the loss of their childhoods. 

The brick kiln, where they toil, is not only a symbol of economic exploitation but a chilling reminder of the persistence of child labour in modern-day India. This investigation sheds light on the plight of these victims, revealing the full extent of the exploitation they endure and the inaction that allows it to continue. With complete details of the kiln, the identities of those responsible, and the harrowing stories of the bonded labourers involved, we dive deep into one of Punjab’s most disturbing realities—one that demands immediate attention and justice.

Over 50 People, Including About 2 Dozen Children, Stuck in Bonded Labour in Moga District, Punjab

In a chilling revelation, The Probe has uncovered the plight of 56 bonded labourers—including 26 children—who have been trafficked from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar districts to Punjab’s Moga district. These individuals, all belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, have allegedly been subjected to forced labour under brutal conditions at Sandhu Brick Industries in Sandhuvana, Moga. 

Through direct contact with the victims, The Probe has learned that 22 of the 26 children have been allegedly coerced into backbreaking work as child bonded labourers. These families, trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation, allege that they were trafficked by two agents—Vijay and Jadda—and forced into labour by their employer, Kuldeep. The details paint a harrowing picture of modern-day slavery, where entire families are deprived of their basic rights and dignity.

What makes this case even more alarming is the absolute lack of intervention from authorities despite clear evidence of bonded labour—a grave violation of Indian laws, including the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. The victims report working long hours under grueling conditions, with little to no wages, and being prevented from leaving the premises.

“I Have to Return Before My Employer Finds Out. Please Save Us.”

The story of Ankush Kumar, a 26-year-old bonded labourer from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, is not just a personal tragedy—it is proof of the widespread and unchecked human trafficking network that continues to thrive across India. During the course of this investigation, The Probe visited Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur on January 16 to track missing labourers who had been trafficked to Moga, Punjab. It was during this visit that Ankush risked everything to escape the brick kiln and meet us at an undisclosed location, pleading for help.

“I ran away and came to you in the hope that my family will be rescued,” Ankush told us with folded hands, his voice trembling with desperation. “My entire family is working in the brick kiln in Moga.”

Ankush’s ordeal began when he was just 10 years old. His father had taken an advance of ₹60,000 from a contractor, and since then, Ankush had been working as a bonded labourer—16 years of relentless toil without a single rupee in wages. His suffering did not end when he was first rescued from bonded labour in Tarn Taran, Punjab. Poverty and desperation pushed him back into bondage—this time at Sandhu Brick Industries in Moga.

Forced to work for 18 hours a day, from midnight to 6 PM, Ankush stated that he and others at the kiln were subjected to inhumane treatment, beatings, and verbal abuse. He said that his employer, Kuldeep, not only refused to pay them but also inflicted brutal violence on those who demanded their dues.

Ankush recounted a horrifying incident involving his uncle: “My uncle, who is also working as a bonded labourer, went to ask the employer for money because we had no ration at home. Instead, they assaulted him so badly that they damaged his eyes. And after injuring him, the employer did not even help him get medical treatment.”

Ankush himself was not spared. For years, he endured physical abuse at the hands of his employer. Shivering as he spoke, he revealed: “The scars are not just physical. I was beaten and abused since the age of 10.”

His suffering was compounded when his younger brother, also a bonded labourer, met with a fatal accident last year. “My brother died. We pleaded with the employer to help us with his treatment, but he refused. We brought him back to our village, but it was too late.”

Despite the unbearable conditions, Ankush had no choice but to return to the brick kiln after speaking to us. His voice filled with dread, he explained why: “My mother, father, and brother are all stuck there. If the employer finds out I am missing, they will harm my family. They are forcing us to work in the bitter cold without paying us a single rupee, and they do not allow us to keep in contact with the outside world.”

As Ankush disappears back into the shadows of the kiln, the question remains: Will he and the dozens of other victims ever find freedom?

The Debt Trap: How Financial Desperation Led to Bondage

The tragic plight of the 10 families trapped in bonded labour at the Moga brick kiln reveals the harsh reality of modern-day slavery in India. These families, driven by financial desperation, found themselves ensnared by an exploitative system after accepting advance payments from the employer through contractors. What seemed like a temporary financial relief soon turned into a vicious cycle of forced labour, with men, women, and even children toiling under inhumane conditions without wages.

A Lifetime of Bondage for Just a Few Thousand Rupees

Take the case of Rajender’s family, who borrowed ₹30,000 from the employer. Today, eight members of his family, including his wife and four children, are trapped at the brick kiln. Among the children, the youngest is just five years old, while the others are 17, 16, and 14 years old.

Similarly, Sukhpal and his family took an advance of ₹30,000 and now, eight family members, including two children aged 6 and 4 years old, are in forced labour. Shockingly, the 4-year-old child is an actively working bonded labourer.

For Angres, an advance of ₹20,000 sealed his family’s fate. Today, he, his wife Sarita, and their son Vikas are all trapped at the Moga brick kiln. Likewise, Lokesh, who took just ₹15,000, now toils at the kiln along with his wife and three children, aged 12, 8, and 3 years old. Reports confirm that both the 12-year-old and 8-year-old are working as child labourers.

For Krishnapal, the burden of a ₹20,000 advance has resulted in five members of his family being held in bondage. Among them, an 11-year-old and a 6-year-old are being forced into labour. Raju’s family borrowed ₹30,000, and now seven family members, including five children aged 13, 12, 10, 8, and 7, are trapped in forced labour.

In some cases, even smaller amounts have led to devastating consequences. Anuj’s family, for instance, took a mere ₹10,000 advance, yet he, his wife, and two children—aged 5 and 3 years old—are now at the kiln. The 5-year-old is actively working as a child bonded labourer.

Anil’s family is another tragic case. Having taken ₹15,000, he and three other family members are now forced to work, including two children aged 10 and 8. Kanwarpal, who borrowed ₹10,000, now works alongside four more family members, including three children aged 10, 7, and 6—all of whom are active child labourers.

Finally, Bablu’s family, having taken ₹20,000, now finds seven members trapped in the kiln, with three children aged 17, 15, and 14 forced into labour.

The Silent Plea for Freedom: Bonded Labourers at Moga’s Brick Kiln Speak Out

Another labourer, Arvind, risked everything to escape and reveal the grim reality of those trapped inside—including women and children.

Children Held in Bondage, Forced to Work Without Pay

Arvind confirmed that at least 19 children are among those enslaved at the kiln, working without wages. "They are forcing us to work. We are not paid any money for the labour we do," he told The Probe. According to him, the families of these 19 children had taken small advance payments, ranging between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000, but the debt has already been repaid. Yet, instead of being freed, they are still being forced to work, with the employer refusing to release them or pay them for their labour.

Surveillance, Violence, and Absolute Control

The conditions inside the brick kiln amount to modern-day slavery, with strict surveillance preventing workers from seeking help. "There are CCTV cameras and security personnel monitoring us constantly. We are not allowed to have any contact with the outside world," Arvind revealed.

He further exposed the harrowing physical abuse faced by the workers, including children. "We are being physically assaulted and verbally abused. Even the children are beaten when they refuse to work or ask for their wages," he said.

Despite his brief escape, Arvind knew he had no choice but to return to bondage. "My parents are still stuck there, and all my belongings are with the employer. I have to go back in the hope that someday, all of us will be rescued," he said before heading back to the kiln.

Video Evidence Exposes Forced Labour at Moga Brick Kiln

The Probe has obtained exclusive video footage from inside the Moga brick kiln, where bonded labourers, including women and children, are allegedly trapped. In the recordings, workers plead for their freedom, exposing the inhumane conditions they are enduring.

"We Want to Go Home, But They Won't Let Us"

One of the labourers in the video, identified as Sandeep Kumar from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, reveals how his family was trapped in bondage after a ₹30,000 advance was given to his father. “For the last five months, my family and I have been working here, trying to repay the loan. But instead, we have been turned into bonded labourers and are being forced to work,” he says.

Sandeep highlights the abusive environment inside the kiln. His wife, who is eight months pregnant, is also being forced to work. "We have made more than four lakh bricks, but we have not been paid for our hard labour. We just want to go home, but they are not letting us leave,” he says in the video.

"They Are Making Our Children Work Too"

Another bonded labourer, Preeti, also from Saharanpur, echoes the same desperate plea. She appears in the video stating, “My husband, Anuj, was given an advance of ₹10,000 by the contractor, and we were brought here to work. For the last five months, we have been working continuously for 16 hours every day, without wages.”

Preeti describes how even their children have been forced into labour at the kiln. “We have made more than 1 to 1.5 lakh bricks over the past five months, but we have received nothing. We just want to go back to our village, but they are not letting us leave,” she says.

The harrowing testimonies in these video recordings confirm that these workers are being held in modern-day slavery, with pregnant women and children forced to work without pay. Despite repaying their debts many times over, they remain trapped. 

Although The Probe visited Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar on January 16, we chose not to publish the story immediately. Our priority was ensuring that the lives of the bonded labourers trapped inside the Moga brick kiln would not be endangered by the publication.

Currently, five organisations are actively in touch with the bonded labourers at the Moga brick kiln: Mehnatkash Association, Volunteer for Social Justice, Zila Yuva Vikas Sangathan, National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour and CCBI.

The Probe has been in direct contact with two of these organisations and the district authorities have been alerted about the dire situation at the brick kiln. 

Rescue Is Only the First Step, Say Activists

“We demand the immediate rescue of all members from these 10 families. Their condition is extremely dire—they are being forced into labour under horrific conditions. Children as young as five are being made to work as child bonded labourers. It is shocking and deeply concerning that this has been allowed to continue for months,” states Nirmal Gorana, the Convenor of the National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour.

However, Gorana highlights that the biggest challenge is not just the rescue itself, but what follows. “Yes, we all agree that these bonded labourers must be rescued, but the real battle begins afterward. Once they are freed, they need a safe environment to speak about the pain, trauma, and suffering they endured while in bondage,” he explains.

According to Gorana, in many cases, district administrations have been found siding with employers instead of the victims. “We have seen instances where officials conduct rescue operations but fail to arrest the employer or contractor. As a result, the same exploitative cycle continues—because when no action is taken, these employers feel emboldened to enslave more people.”

He further stresses the need for strict legal action against the entire network enabling bonded labour. “This is a serious human rights violation. The employer must be arrested, but not just him—the entire chain of command must be held accountable and prosecuted. Without this, bonded labour will continue to thrive.”

Another major issue, he points out, is that authorities often fail to issue release certificates to the rescued workers. “Many administrations try to cover up the existence of bonded labour in their jurisdiction because it is seen as shameful. By not providing release certificates, they deny rescued workers access to rehabilitation benefits. Without these certificates, they remain trapped in poverty and at risk of falling back into forced labour. So, the fight doesn’t end with rescue—it’s a long, drawn-out battle for justice.”

In India, the practice of bonded labour is prohibited under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. This legislation abolished the bonded labour system nationwide, freeing all bonded labourers from any obligation to render such labour and extinguishing any debts associated with it. The Act also nullifies any customs, agreements, or instruments that required a person to render bonded labour. 

Under this Act, compelling any person to render bonded labour is a punishable offence. Additionally, advancing any bonded debt is also punishable under the law. Enforcing any custom, tradition, contract, agreement, or other instrument by virtue of which any person or their family member is required to render any service under the bonded labour system is also punishable.

We spoke to Ramandeep Sharma, Labour Inspector from Punjab, who assured us that a team will be formed immediately to rescue the bonded labourers. "I know this is a serious situation. We will get the bonded labourers rescued. We will take action as per law".

The Probe will continue to update this developing story. The authorities' prompt action is crucial not only for rescuing these victims but also for ensuring their safety during the process. While rescue is the immediate priority, the real battle begins afterward—ensuring these labourers receive justice, rehabilitation, and the necessary resources to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.