'Stabbed, Fed Animal Fodder': Labourers Recount Extreme Brutality In UP Factory, One Died From Torture

Last Updated:June 26, 2026, 09:52 IST

Muzaffarnagar police rescued 12 bonded labourers from a paper plate factory. One of the workers died last year and his body was disposed in a bag, police said.

One bonded labourer allegedly died after being tortured at a paper plate manufacturing factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district, while 12 others, including minors, were rescued during a police and administration raid, officials said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjay Kumar said on Thursday that one of the labourers, identified as Arjun, allegedly died in November 2025 after being subjected to torture at the factory. His body was later packed in a bag and disposed of, he told PTI.

Police have registered a fresh case against factory owner Ankit Balyan and Shiva Tyagi in connection with Arjun’s death, the SSP said.

The rescue operation was carried out at the factory located in Mandi village under the Titawi police station limits following a tip-off, officials said. A team led by Executive Magistrate Radhey Shyam Gaur conducted the raid and rescued 12 labourers from the premises.

According to police, the rescued workers had been brought from different states on the promise of monthly wages of Rs 12,000. However, they were allegedly not paid and were provided only food while being forced to work at the factory.

The labourers told investigators that they had been living inside the factory for more than a year under poor conditions. Several workers were found with visible injuries and torture marks on their bodies, police said.

The workers alleged that they were beaten and assaulted whenever they attempted to leave the premises. Some labourers also alleged that they were stabbed and forced to eat animal fodder as part of the alleged abuse, according to officials.

Police have registered a case against Ankit Balyan, Pradeep Balyan and Shiva Tyagi under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

Pradeep Balyan and Shiva Tyagi have been arrested, while factory owner Ankit Balyan is absconding, police said.

Further investigation is underway and efforts are being made to trace the absconding accused, officials said.

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