It was around 8 pm on Thursday night when Jyothi, a 32-year-old woman informed her children and sister that they had to pack their bags and flee from Bengaluru. Jyothi wanted her family to be free of bonded labour. While they were walking out of their home in a slum at HBR Layout in Bengaluru, a group of five men allegedly began chasing them.
With her 7-day-old baby in hand, two other daughters in tow, Jyothi, her sister and brother-in-law ran for their lives. By the time they reached Shampura Road, the goons had allegedly caught up to them and allegedly began assaulting Jyothi and her family.
Fortunately for Jyothi, the incident took place in front of social worker Habeebullah Khan’s office. When Habeebullah heard Jyothi’s cries for help, he rushed out and intervened.
When Habeebullah informed the men that he would call the police, they allegedly fled the spot. Up on talking to Jyothi, Habeebullah realised that Jyothi and her family members were victims of bonded labour for the last seven years.
Speaking to TNM, Jyothi says that she and her family arrived in Bengaluru seven years ago from Villupuram in Tamil Nadu. “Jaysilla is a building contractor here and he promised us construction jobs. Initially, he had set up hutments for us in an empty site where were living and we were getting paid for the work we did,” Jyothi says.
Jyothi’s hutment in HBR Layout was demolished by the BBMP seven years ago and Jaysilla had allegedly loaned the family Rs 20,000 to build a house in the HBR Layout slum. “He told us that we had to pay Rs 4,000 interest every month. We were basically not getting any salary as we were getting paid only Rs 100 per day. Somehow, with the help of our family, we managed to get Rs 20,000 but when we went to Jaysilla to return it two months ago, he assaulted us and told us that we have to pay interest until he feels we have paid him back,” Jyothi alleges.
Jyothi began feeling trapped and unable to bear the harassment, she decided to escape with her family members on Thursday night. After Jyothi was rescued by Habeebullah, he took her to Bowring Hospital, where a medico-legal case was registered. Jyothi and her 16-year old daughter had injuries due to the assault they had allegedly suffered at the hands of Jaysilla’s goons on Thursday.
“My 7-day-old baby too had injuries on her arm because the goons did not even spare my baby. Now they are threatening to kill us. My brother-in-law was stabbed in the back two months ago when he questioned Jaysilla as to why he was refusing to take back the Rs 20,000. Now he is threatening to kill us and anyone who helps us,” Jyothi adds.
She and her family are currently lodged at an undisclosed location in the city, as they fear harm from Jaysilla. According to Jyothi, Jaysilla’s men Karthi, Vijay, Surya, Vinod, Shiva and Bharat, who had allegedly attacked her on Thursday night are still threatening her. Jyothi alleges that when she had approached the KG Halli Police, wanting to file a complaint, the officers did not take her seriously. “They did not take my complaint. I don’t know why,” she said.