Contractors made children work on govt infrastructure sites: Police

Ahmedabad: Flyovers and railway lines meant to connect cities have emerged as the alleged workplaces of children trapped in a labour racket. The minors were forced to perform dangerous construction work at several govt infrastructure projects across Ahmedabad, Anand and Vadodara districts, said police. Police said at least eight multi-crore public projects across the three districts had engaged the children. While the minors were made to perform strenuous work at dangerous construction sites, their parents allegedly received only Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 a year for their labour. The findings have raised questions about contractor compliance and oversight on state-funded infrastructure projects. 'One of the rescued boys worked on the Sola flyover and two other flyover projects in Ahmedabad,' a senior crime branch officer said. 'Two other minors were deployed at four flyover sites in Ahmedabad and Vadodara, besides a road construction project executed by one of the key accused, Dinesh Kabildar.' Another investigating officer confirmed that the children were also pushed into high-risk railway project work between Anand and Vadodara. The investigation began after a 14-year-old boy went missing from Sola on July 13, 2022. His mother lodged a complaint, following which the case was taken up by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. Acting on intelligence, police traced the boy, who had remained missing for more than four years, to Nava Nadisar village in Godhra taluka of Panchmahal district. On Sunday, police arrested labour contractor Dinesh Kabildar, 47, and cattle herder Bharat Bharwad, 35. Police suspect Kabildar abducted the boy while he was working near the Sola flyover in 2022 and allegedly sold him to Bharwad for Rs 10,000. At Nava Nadisar, Bharwad and his brother Ranchhod allegedly forced the boy to work as bonded labour alongside two other minors from economically vulnerable families. All three children have since been reunited with their families. Police are now investigating whether other contractors, employers or organised groups were involved in the alleged child-selling and bonded labour network. They are also examining how the children were deployed at public project sites without the required checks. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Ahmedabad | Silver Rate in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Petrol Price in Ahmedabad | Diesel Price in Ahmedabad | CNG Price in Ahmedabad | LPG Price in Ahmedabad Stay updated with the latest Ahmedabad news. Download the TOI App.