In Karnataka, three workers were rescued from Tiruvannamalai

Officials said the rescued men were forced to work in a sugarcane farm in Karnataka under inhumane conditions. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Three men from remote villages of Tiruvannamalai district were rescued from sugarcane fields in Karnataka and brought back to their hometown on Sunday.

Revenue officials said the rescued persons were identified as K. Murugan, 28, a resident of Agarampallipattu village; John Bosco, 40, a resident of Navampattu village, and K. Anbalagan, 58.

“According to the alert, the officials in Karnataka conducted a search of the agricultural land where they found the rescued persons who were working for the last few years,” said an official from the revenue department.

Initial investigations revealed that the rescued persons had been roped in by agents to work in sugarcane farms in remote Karnataka villages. They were given ₹10,000–15,000 as advance before being sent to the farmland to work in inhumane conditions.

Revenue officials said those rescued were forced to stay in small huts without proper access to drinking water and no toilets. They were reportedly forced to work more than 15 hours a day. The rescued workers told officials that the farm manager and his men would beat them if they stood in the shade or even drank water. They were allegedly subjected to physical abuse, long working hours, said revenue officials.

Acting on the alert, officials in Karnataka inspected the agricultural land and rescued the workers. Revenue officials in Vellore informed about the incident. Subsequently, Tiruvannamalai Collector Vandana Garg directed the officials to ensure the safe return of the rescued persons.

Release certificates signed by the RDO at Tiruvannamalai were provided to the rescued persons. Certificates of release allow rescued workers to receive financial assistance and access to government programs designed for workers, officials said.

Published – 07 Sep 2026 0:06 IST