By IANS,
Thane: The Maharashtra government Wednesday ordered a probe into a labourer’s death allegedly due to torture by a brick kiln owner and his two sons in Thane district earlier this month. The three have been arrested.
The criminal investigation department probe was ordered after independent legislator from Vasai, Vivek Pandit, met Home Minister R.R. Patil and apprised him of the alleged torture and killing of Jhipru Mukane, 35, of Shere village in Shahpur tribal area, around 90 km from Mumbai.
Mukane, a Katkari tribal was subjected to cruelty, forced labour, torture and tied to chain, his wife Jaya, 30, alleged.
She alleged Mukane could not repay a loan of Rs.6,000 to brick kiln owner Balu Choudhary and his sons Ganesh and Bunty, who kept him as a bonded labourer at their home. All three have been arrested.
According to her, Mukane was beaten up by his employers and he succumbed to his injuries Nov 22.
“This is indeed a serious issue. We are living in the 21st century and such things are happening barely 100 km from the country’s commercial capital,” said Pandit.
He said Jaya had also complained to Thane Superintendent of Police R.K. Mor, alleging police complicity and apathy which led to her husband’s death.