Child workers rescued, farm owner arrested

The kids wanted to quit ; had asked to be paid for the six months they had worked.

MULTAN:

A poultry farm owner in Khanewal was arrested on Friday for beating and torturing two child helpers, who, the police said, had wanted to quit work.

The two children were taken to district headquarters hospital, where

Police said seven-year-old Muhammad Ali and nine-year-old Muhammad Babar from Abbas Nagar had started working at Rana Munna’s poultry farm six months ago. They were hired at Rs300 wage per month.

After six months, police said, they wanted to quit saying Munna would beat them on every little mistake. Before they left, they asked Munna to give them their wages that they had not been paid for six months.

They said Munna refused to pay them and instead beat them up with a stick. He then tied them and rubbed red chilies on their bruises until they both fainted.

The two boys were abandoned on the roadside near the farm. A resident had seen them and taken them to district headquarters hospital, where doctors said there were bruises on their bodies.

Medical Superintendent Zahid Kamboh told The Express Tribune that a medical examination report had been sent to the police.

Police said an FIR had been registered against Munna, who was arrested on his way to Multan.

Station House Officer Sadiq Rind told The Express Tribune that Munna’s poultry farm had been sealed. He said police recovered iron rods and wooden sticks that were probably used to beat the children.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2014.