How Fan Belts, Heated Irons and Pitbulls Kept Factory Workers Captive in Muzaffarnagar (Watch Videos)
Thirteen bonded labourers, including two minors, were rescued from a Muzaffarnagar factory. Workers were lured with fake job promises, had IDs seized, and were starved, beaten with fan belts, and branded with iron. The exit gates were guarded by Pitbulls to prevent escape. Two suspects have been arrested, while a third remains at large.
A joint raid by law enforcement and labour officials has uncovered a severe case of human trafficking and forced labour at a disposable tableware factory in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Thirteen workers, including two minors aged 16 and 17, were rescued from the facility where they were allegedly held captive, starved, and subjected to systemic physical abuse. Following the operation, local police arrested two suspects, Shiva Tyagi and Pradeep Baliyan, while the primary factory operator, Ankit Baliyan, remains at large. The rescue operation was initiated after one of the captive workers managed to escape the heavily guarded premises and approached law enforcement.
According to investigators, the labourers - recruited from various public transport hubs across Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Haryana, Punjab, and neighbouring Nepal - were initially lured with false promises of proper accommodation, meals, and monthly salaries ranging between INR 8,000 and INR 12,000. How Police Dog Mary Cracked a Dead-End Child S*xual Assault Case in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal.
Captive Workers Tortured With Fan Belts and Pitbull Guards in Muzaffarnagar
In UP's Muzaffarnagar, at least 12 bonded labourers were freed from a paper plate manufacturing unit. Narrating their ordeal, labourers claimed they were tortured using fan belt whip and spear. Roti made of cattle feed and salt was served in the meal. Rottweiler was stationed as… pic.twitter.com/QQGUZwJRq3
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) June 23, 2026
The Horror Faced by Rescued Labourers
Upon arriving at the factory, which manufactured disposable plates and bowls, the workers immediately had their mobile phones, Aadhaar cards, and identification documents confiscated to isolate them completely from their families. Survivors recounted a routine of severe physical torture used by the operators to maintain compliance and enforce uncompensated labour. Medical examinations conducted after the raid confirmed that several of the rescued individuals suffered from fractures and severe, visible trauma across their bodies. "The rescued workers had visible and serious injury marks on various parts of their bodies," stated Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjay Verma. "They said they were recruited from bus stands, railway stations and other public places on the promise of jobs," he added.
SSP Verma added, "Their mobile phones were confiscated, they were not allowed to contact their families and were prevented from leaving the premises. The accused also allegedly used heated iron equipment and fan belts to assault them." In addition to physical assaults with sticks and belts, the workers detailed severe starvation. Many reported being left without food for 24-hour periods.
"We were told that we would get food and tea three times a day, but none of those promises was fulfilled. Sometimes we were left hungry for 24 hours and given only a coarse roti made from cattle feed. We were not paid any wages," a rescued worker stated, noting that on most days, they subsisted on just one roti. To ensure absolute confinement, the operators deployed two Pitbull guard dogs at the exit points. One of the survivors explained the psychological and physical barrier this created, stating, “One Pitbull was kept inside the gate, and the other outside. Because of the dogs and the beatings, nobody dared to run away.” Lucknow Coaching Centre Fire: Uttar Pradesh Police Seal Building in Aliganj, Register FIR Against 6 Accused.
These Labourers Had Been Held As Bonded Captives, Says Uttar Pradesh Police
अपराध के प्रति जीरो टॉलरेंस—@muzafarnagarpol द्वारा फैक्ट्री में कैद 12 श्रमिकों को मुक्त कराते हुए 02 आरोपी अभियुक्तों को गिरफ्तार किया गया है।
मुक्त कराए गए श्रमिक उत्तर प्रदेश सहित बिहार, उत्तराखंड, छत्तीसगढ़, हरियाणा एवं राजस्थान राज्यों के निवासी हैं और इन श्रमिकों को… pic.twitter.com/XL2Lgb2Vzz
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) June 23, 2026
Investigation and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The joint operation by the Rural Special Operations Group, police, and administration successfully removed all thirteen confined individuals from the site. Authorities have formally registered a criminal case at the Titavi Police Station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, the Child Labour Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act. During preliminary law enforcement interrogations, the detained suspect, Shiva Tyagi, reportedly admitted to targeting vulnerable individuals at public transit hubs before bringing them to the factory to work under duress without wages.
"The raid uncovered a serious bonded labour racket and helped restore freedom to workers who had endured months of exploitation, abuse and captivity," Superintendent of Police (Rural) Akshay Sanjay confirmed.
Local authorities are also investigating unconfirmed allegations made by some of the survivors that other labourers, who had been held at the facility for a prolonged duration, died during their captivity. District officials have since provided medical treatment to the rescued individuals and are coordinating administrative logistics for their safe return to their respective home regions.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2026 04:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
