About 550 individuals have been rescued from a human trafficking location in India on Wednesday, according to reports.
The group was rescued from forced labor at a brick kiln in Chennai by Indian police and staff of International Justice Mission (IJM), a non-profit organization that focuses on combating human trafficking.
Six people have been arrested and detained, including the owner of the kiln. According to IJM, some 500 individuals were rescued from the same owner and brick kiln in 2011; but during the first rescue mission, officials and others involved were unable to arrest the owner.
"The operation highlights a critical need in the fight against slavery: If criminals remain free, the violence will continue," stated IJM. "But if laws are enforced and traffickers go to jail, we can end slavery for good."
The rescue mission began when a former worker in the kiln was able to escape and call relatives about what he went through, and the relatives contacted officials.
Upon arrival, officials found almost 200 children living in the facility, almost half of which were under the age of 5.
Workers shared stories of the abuse that they faced while in the kiln. Laborers were forced to live in small rooms with tin roofs or tattered tents. Many had not eaten for days. A pregnant woman was forced to give birth in the kiln. And another woman was forced to keep working in the kiln instead of attending the funeral of her husband, who died during a trip to "his native" town.
Their work days began at 3 AM each morning. Laborers were paid less than six dollars (400 rupees) each week, and were not allowed to stop if they were injured or in pain.
"They pay Rs. 400 a family per week and we have to manage everything with that," a woman named Savitri told The Hindu. "Since Malik saab does not give us food, we fight it out in nearby ration shops to get rice at Rs. 5 a kilo."
Those who were rescued were taken to a wedding hall, where they were able to rest and officials were able to prepare documents and Release Certificates to officially recognize what the captives had undergone as well as their freedom.
