MIM terror again in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Dec. 10: People of Phoolbagh area led by a local MIM leader, Mr Pashan Baig, allegedly manhandled officials of the labour department who were trying to rescue child labourers. Acting on a tipoff, a team of officials led by deputy labour commissioner, Mr B. Ajay, and assistant labour commissioner, Mr Gangadhar, raided workshops, garages, hotels and meat shops of the area on Monday to detect child labourers.

They were accompanied by police, officials of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and activists of a voluntary organisation. Most of the children ran away from the shops as soon as they saw the officials. When officials started checking the establishments, around 30 persons of the locality led by Mr Baig accosted them and had heated arguments. The mob included parents of the child labourers.

“The MIM leader told them that the children were working of their own accord and officials had no right to intervene,” said South Zone DCP, Mr Shivdhar Reddy. In the meantime, officials rescued six child labourers and were about to put them into vehicles when Mr Baig and others manhandled them. The officials then left the spot and filed a complaint with the Chandrayangutta police against the MIM leader and his followers.

“In the evening, labour officials accompanied by 50 other officials including 20 policemen once again went to Phoolbagh area and rescued four more child labourers,” said Mr Ajay. “We also warned owners of the establishments not to employ children. We have booked 17 cases under Child Labour Act against them.” In all, eight special teams raided several places in different parts of the city on Monday and rescued 44 child labourers. Chandrayangutta police is trying to trace Mr Baig and his associates.

MIM floor leader, Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi, who represents Chandrayangutta constituency, said that his party men mistook the labour officials for police personnel trying to arrest the children. “Parents of the children had panicked and our party men went there to find out what was happening,” he said. “After understanding the facts, they even had tea with the labour officials. They never obstructed the officials.”

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