Over 100 Rajasthan Laborers Held Hostage in Maharashtra, 53 Rescued by Pratapgarh Police

Pratapgarh, Rajasthan: In a major cross-state operation, Pratapgarh police successfully rescued 53 tribal laborers from Maharashtra who had been held hostage and forced to work without pay. The workers, lured with promises of daily wages of ₹500, had been “sold” to local landlords for a total of ₹27.5 lakh by unscrupulous middlemen. The police action followed reports from laborers who had managed to escape and inform authorities.

Details of the Rescue Operation

Acting on intelligence, SP B. Aditya formed a special team and ordered an immediate raid in Maharashtra. Under the supervision of Additional SP Gajendra Singh Jodha and Sub-Inspector Sohanlal, the operation successfully freed 53 laborers from various locations and safely brought them back to Pratapgarh. The rescued group included 13 women and 40 men, all from tribal communities residing in villages such as Ghantali, Peepalkhoont, Parsola, Varda, Jamli, Malia, Gothra, Umaria Pada, Bada Kali Ghati, Thesla, and Kumari. Upon return, the laborers were provided with tea and snacks before being escorted to their respective villages.

Deceptive Recruitment by Middlemen

According to SP B. Aditya, over 100 tribal laborers had been deceived by two middlemen, Sitaram Patil (Maharashtra) and Khan (Alwar), with promises of employment in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Trusting the offers of wages, food, and lodging, the laborers traveled to Maharashtra, only to find themselves forced to work on farms in Solapur district without pay.

Exploitation and Unpaid Wages

Investigations revealed that the middlemen had received advance payments totaling ₹27.5 lakh from local landlords—₹18 lakh to Sitaram Patil and ₹9.5 lakh to Khan—without transferring any wages to the laborers. Some workers managed to escape and informed the police about the forced labor conditions.

Next Steps by Authorities

Pratapgarh police have launched a manhunt for the middlemen responsible for this exploitation and are committed to ensuring that all pending wages are recovered. The rescue underscores the growing need for vigilance against labor trafficking and exploitation across state lines.