Four tribal families from T.N. rescued from bonded labour at brick kiln in Chittoor

The officials rescued four families who had been reportedly held in bonded labour for nearly three years at a brick kiln in Gollamadugu under Gudipala mandal, on Monday night (November 24, 2025).

The 14-member group, belonging to Samiyar Malai village in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district, had been trapped at the kiln after taking loan of ₹50,000 per family from the kiln owner, identified as Ranganathan. When they failed to repay, he reportedly slapped exorbitant interests on the amount and demanded ₹1.7 lakh from each family, forcing them to work round the clock to “clear” the debt.

The ordeal came to light after the victims’ relatives approached Vellore (TN) Collector V.R. Subbulaximi who immediately alerted Chittoor Collector Sumit Kumar, who then directed an urgent rescue. A rescue team led by Revenue Divisional Officer (Chittoor) M. Srinivasulu and chairman of the Rural Organisation for Poverty Eradication Services (ROPES) Dr. K. Dhanasekharan was pressed into action.

The team moved into the kiln, secured the workers, and ensured their safe extraction despite resistance from the kiln operators. The rescued workers were brought to a rehabilitation centre in Chittoor and provided with the release certificates on Tuesday (November 25).

Dhanasekaran said that the ROPES had provided dry rations, hygiene kits, bedsheets and essential supplies for the rescued families. A vehicle was arranged to transport them back to their native village, ending their long captivity.

Collector Sumit Kumar said that action would be initiated against the kiln owner for illegal confinement and exploitation of the families.