Assam: Four from Lakhimpur held captive for forced labour in Arunachal Pradesh

North Lakhimpur: Four persons from a riverine area of Lakhimpur district in Assam have been held captive by their employer at an unknown location inside Arunachal Pradesh, according to allegations made by their family members.

The four men were reportedly recruited by a contractor for masonry work in Arunachal Pradesh.

Babu Bania, Babu Bharali, Hirendra Saikia, and Bijoy Das, all residents of Jorhatiya Bonia village in Kuhiyarbari under Panigaon Police Station in Lakhimpur district, were taken by a contractor named Dhan Nath a few months ago with the promise of masonry work in Arunachal Pradesh.

The families of the four men received an advance payment of Rs 4,000 each for their wages from the contractor.

However, for over a month, the families have not received any communication from them, leaving them deeply anxious.

According to the family members, the four men were allegedly “sold” by Dhan Nath to another labour contractor named Farijul Rahman, who took them for work inside Arunachal Pradesh.

When the families contacted Dhan Nath, he allegedly demanded Rs 25,000 for the safe return of the four men.

It is learned that the four labourers from Lakhimpur district are being held captive for work in Hapoli, Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.

One of the captives reportedly managed to make a secret phone call to his family, informing them that the group was being forced to live under a bridge and that his leg injury had not been treated by the employer.