Police rescued 13 Dadan labourers from Muribahal block in Balangir district and arrested labour sardar Lakshman Tandi (37) for allegedly hiding them in a house to traffic them to other states.
While patrolling, the police team raided a house in Khapadar village under Patripali (K) panchayat after learning that several labourers were being prepared for trafficking to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. During the raid, officers rescued eight labourers and immediately detained the sardar for questioning.
Among the rescued workers, police identified one man, seven women, and five children. Investigators later revealed that the labourers belonged to the Larmbha police station area of Aenlachuan in Balangir district.
Police discovered that each labourer had already received advance payments, with promises of additional money once they reached brick kilns outside Odisha. Consequently, officers provided the rescued workers with primary medical care and, after further inquiry at the station, sent them back to their homes.
Meanwhile, police registered case number 254/25 against Lakshman Tandi. After interrogation, they produced him in court. Since the court rejected his bail plea, authorities remanded him to judicial custody.
Muribahal IIC Sanatan Sahu confirmed the details and stated that police had taken strict action against the accused to curb the illegal trafficking of labourers.
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