Brother of Teen Bonded Labour Victim Seeks Justice After Harrowing Ordeal

Quick Summary

• Santosh, a 14-year-old boy from Bihar’s Kishanganj, was found with his arm severed on July 29 in Nuh, Haryana.
• Initially held captive as bonded labour according to his statement, Santosh reportedly injured himself while operating a motorized grass chopper. His employer allegedly worsened his condition by cutting off the hanging portion of the arm with a blade and abandoning him on the road.
• the teenager walked alone for extended periods before being spotted and transferred for treatment at PGIMS Rohtak.
• Santosh ran away from home in May 2025 and had been missing since then.He was separated again after reuniting with his father during their return trip due to circumstances at Bahadurgarh railway station.
• The family has been struggling financially with limited assistance-a ₹5,000 contribution from an NGO. They have made appeals for government support but received no aid thus far besides police intervention at the hospital.
• According to legal experts like David Sunder Singh, applicable laws (Bonded labour System Abolition Act) may grant Santosh immediate rehabilitation assistance of ₹30,000 if proven as a bonded laborer via SDM examination.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This distressing case highlights systemic vulnerabilities concerning labor exploitation and inadequate mechanisms to enforce rehabilitation aid under established laws like the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act. The family’s socioeconomic background emphasizes inequities faced by marginalized communities in accessing justice or healthcare.

Key policy implications revolve around ensuring faster investigations into such allegations. Decisive action by authorities could bolster accountability through timely registration of FIRs even when complaints are delayed due to ongoing medical emergencies or logistical challenges faced by victims’ families.

The need for proactive government responses-not only financial but also psychological-becomes pronounced as this case sheds light on human rights enforcement deficits that leave victims vulnerable post-crisis.

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