Tulunada Rakshana Vedike Intervenes to Rescue Child Labourer

Pic: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 18: Rafique (13), son of Nana Saheb and Noor Jehan from Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district, who reportedly was working as a child labourer in the house of Maimoona in Mulihitlu in the city, was rescued on Monday January 17. Activists of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike were involved in this act.

Reportedly, Maimoona used to force Rafique to work hard at her home, even at times, tethering him with the help of an iron chain. Apart from making Rafique to work in the houses of neighbours, she even got him to work for a bar, it is said. Allegedly, she did not provide the boy enough food to eat, and behaved with him violently.

It is gathered that Rafique had confessed to the neighbours a couple of days ago that he always felt hungry, but Maimoona refused to give him enough food. After coming to know of this fact, activists of Tulunada Raksha Vedike, led by president Yogishkumar Jeppu, and advisor, M G Hegde, raided the house, rescued the boy, and handed him over to Pandeshwar police. The boy has since been entrusted to a childcare centre here.

It is also said that Maimoona told her neighbours that Rafique was her son, and that she is ready to send him to work with them, if they are willing to pay Rs 2,000 per month to her.