MP: Tribal youth was chained for 14 years, relatives got him released
An incident that puts humanity to shame, Ajaak police station is starting investigation
Published on: 05 May 2025, 1:52 pm
Bhopal. A hair-raising incident has come to light from Hasalpur village of Manpur police station area of Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Here a 25-year-old tribal youth was allegedly held hostage for the last 14 years. The youth was kept captive in the house of two people-Rahim and Ibrahim Dhaniya Wale Seth-where he was forced to do household chores and was tied with chains at night.
This tragic incident came to light when the youth’s father contacted Bajrang Sena and Kesaria Hindu Vahini. With the help of these organisations, the youth was rescued on Saturday night and a complaint was lodged with the police.
How was it revealed?
Bajrang Sena’s national president Mahendra Yadav told the media that the youth’s father came to him and told him that his son was imprisoned in Rahim and Ibrahim’s house for 14 years. After this information, Bajrang Sena and Kesaria Hindu Vahini workers reached Hasalpur village and freed the youth from there. After this, everyone took the youth to Ajaak police station and lodged a complaint.
The boy was tied in chains
According to the information, the young man was kept tied with chains at night so that he could not run away. He was made to do farm and household chores throughout the day. He was even made to clean the toilets of the elderly.
Mahendra Yadav said that once the young man’s grandmother had died, but Rahim and Ibrahim did not allow him to even attend the funeral. According to the young man, he was beaten up if he protested.
Bonded life began at the age of 11
The victim was brought to Hasalpur when he was just 11 years old. Rahim and Ibrahim hired him to work in the fields for Rs 1200 per month. Initially he was put in touch with his family, but gradually he was completely isolated.
For 14 years he neither went to his home nor saw the city. For him the world was limited to working as a labourer from morning to evening and being confined in chains at night.
The family brought him to the police station, police started investigation
On Saturday, the victim’s father somehow left Hasalpur with his son and directly contacted Hindu organizations. The organization members immediately reached the police station and filed an application. ACP Sonu Dabar said that the case belongs to Ajaak police station area and investigation has been started at present.
ACP Sonu Dabar said, “Some people from a social organization came to the police station with the youth and his family. They have submitted an application. The matter is being investigated and soon appropriate action will be taken against those involved.”
Action can be taken on bonded labour and Scheduled Tribe oppression
In this case, the manner in which the tribal youth was held hostage for 14 years makes it clear that this is not just a case of individual exploitation, but a serious example of violation of law and constitution. The youth was forced to do labour, kept in bondage, subjected to mental and physical torture – all these things constitute cognizable offences under the Bonded Labour Abolition Act, 1976 and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The most important thing is that the victim belongs to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, so the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 can also be applicable in this case. Under this Act, if a person from a Scheduled Tribe is tortured on the basis of his caste identity, held hostage and exploited, then the culprits can be given strict punishment.
Talking to The Muknayak , legal expert and advocate Mayank Singh said that the following sections may be applicable in this case:
Under the Bonded Labour Abolition Act, 1976, it is prohibited to compel a person to do labour against his or her will. Under the Indian Penal Code, making a person do forced labour is a punishable offence. Sections 342 and 344 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC): Illegal confinement or long detention of a person. Sections of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Humiliation, exploitation or violence against a person belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, especially on the basis of ethnic identity, amounts to atrocity.
Advocate Mayank Singh further said, “Thus, this case is not merely a social or moral crime but a serious crime falling under the strict legal framework, in which the culprits can be punished with imprisonment ranging from 5 years to life imprisonment.”
The demand for social organization
After this incident, social organizations and human rights activists have demanded strict action against the culprits. They say that if a tribal youth was kept hostage for 14 years and the administration did not even get a clue, then this is also a serious case of administrative negligence.
