A 15‑year‑old boy from Bariali village under Turekela block in Bolangir district died under suspicious circumstances while working at a brick kiln outside Odisha, exposing another grim face of migrant labour exploitation.
Reports said the boy, son of Makarua Dharua, had left five months ago with other villagers after a local labour contractor advanced money and sent them to work in a kiln outside the state. Locals claimed the boy died after being crushed under a tractor, though the exact cause remains unclear.
Shockingly, the kiln owner transported the body back to the village without informing police or labour officials. The body was handed over to the family and cremated in the village. Allegations surfaced that the family was paid Rs 1.5 lakh to suppress the incident and avoid legal action.
No complaint was lodged with Kantabanji police, and officials admitted they had not received any information. The silence has raised questions about the enforcement of labour laws and the protection of vulnerable families.
The Dharua family, comprising five members, survives on daily wage labour. The hush‑money settlement has drawn criticism, with activists calling it proof of systemic failure in addressing migrant worker exploitation.
