Officials rescue 12-member family from alleged bonded labour in Hyderabad

Revenue and Labour officials in Telangana rescued a 12-member family from Uttar Pradesh from alleged bonded labour conditions at a construction facility in Bachupally, Medchal-Malkajgiri district, on Tuesday. The family had reportedly sought to return home after nearly a year at the site. Officials said they had been threatened, assaulted and prevented from leaving the premises together.

Six children, aged between three and 10, were among those rescued. Four women, aged 40, 25, 20 and 19, and the children were living in tin-sheet rooms without ventilation. Officials found that the family cooked and defecated inside the rooms, describing the conditions as hazardous and unsanitary.

The rescue followed a complaint by social workers to the district Revenue Divisional Officer. The workers told officials that they had arrived in Hyderabad in September 2025 after being recruited through a trafficker from Uttar Pradesh with the promise of earning about ₹1,200 a day. According to the workers, some families received an advance of about ₹5,000, while others said the promised advance was not paid.

They were later told that wages would be calculated at approximately ₹12,000 a month, with the balance to be settled when they left. They said they received only about ₹1,000 per family each week. The workers also alleged that they were made to work throughout the week, could not leave as a family and had most of their belongings kept in a locked room.

They reported physical and verbal abuse when they were ill, unable to work, sought pending wages or asked to go home. They also alleged inadequate medical treatment. Supervisors were taken into custody and Miyapur police began an investigation.

The case is being examined under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. The family was taken to the Mandal Revenue Officer’s office in Gachibowli for further proceedings under the Central Standard Operating Procedures for bonded labour.