Maharashtra: Igatpuri tribal girl’s death exposes bigger bonded labour racket

Gauri Agivle’s parents show their makeshift hut where they found their daughter. Pics/Hanif Patel

A 10-year-old tribal girl from Ubhade village in Igatpuri, who had multiple injuries on her body and strangulation marks around her neck, died while undergoing treatment at Nashik Civil Hospital on September 2. The minor, Gauri Agivle, worked as a bonded labourer for Vikas Kudnar, a shepherd from Shindodi village in Ahmednagar district, as part of a deal her parents struck with him while borrowing R3,000. Kudnar and his wife Suman have been booked and arrested by Sangamner police.

The minor's parents, who belong to the Katkari Samaj tribe - an extremely poor community, had taken a loan of Rs 3,000 from Kudnar around three years ago. "After lending the money, Kudnar had offered to give them Rs 10,000 and two sheeps every year if they sent their minor daughter to work for him and look after the sheep at his farm. The poor family had agreed as they had no other way to repay the loan," said Sanjay Ramchandra Shinde, general secretary of Shramjeevi Sanghatana in Nashik.

"In the wee hours of August 27, Kudnar dumped an injured Gauri, who was wrapped in a blanket, in front of the makeshift tent where her parents and younger siblings live. Her parents woke up only after they heard Gauri writhing in pain around 4 am," Shinde added.

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He added that Gauri's parents took her to a ‘bhagat' (priest) even as she was unable to talk. Meanwhile, people associated with Shramjeevi Sanghatana learnt of the incident and rushed to the spot. "Since Gauri's condition was critical, our men took her to Rural Hospital, Ghoti. But the doctors referred her to Nashik Civil hospital, so we admitted her there," Shinde said.

Sanjay Shinde, who runs an NGO and helped the Agivles get Gauri to a hospital for treatment

Ghoti cops file case

Ghoti police got information that a minor girl was found injured and admitted to Nashik Civil hospital, and a team was sent to record her statement. "But she was not in a condition to talk to anyone," Dileep Khedkar, assistant inspector, Ghoti police station told mid-day.

Sources at Nashik Civil Hospital told mid-day, "The girl was unable to stand as her back was badly injured and she had a large wound on her right elbow. She also had a V-shaped mark around her neck as if she was hanged by her assaulter."

Members of NGO Shramjeevi Sanghatana who helped Gauri's parents

The police ruled out any possibility of sexual abuse. "We first registered an FIR under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC against Kudnar on August 28," Khedkar told mid-day.

"Gauri died while undergoing treatment on September 2. As the hospital did not provide a hearse van to carry her body to her village, we contributed money and hired a private vehicle," said Gokul Hilam, president of Igatpuri taluka of Shramjeevi Sanghatana.

Gauri's parents with their two other children

Agivle family could not even arrange woods for Gauri's cremation. "They had to remove wooden sticks from the roof of their hut for cremation. Now, they live in another's hut as their makeshift hut cannot withhold the heavy rainfall," Shinde added.

Accused arrested

API Khedkar added, "After Gauri's death, we registered a zero FIR under section 302 (murder) and transferred it to Sangamner police for further investigation."

Gauri Agivle's parents had first taken her a bhagat

Sangamner police booked and arrested Kudnar and his wife Suman under stringent sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

"We are yet to find out why Gauri was assaulted. Our investigation is underway," said an officer attached to Sangamner police station.

Dileep Khedkar, assistant inspector, Ghoti police station

Kantilal Karande, an agent who finds bonded labourers for shepherds in Sangamner, is absconding, said police.

"Karande convinces couples to send their minor children as bonded labourers. He has been booked in many FIRs but on the run," said a police officer in Sangamner taluka.

Findings so far

During primary investigation, Ghoti police learnt that the accused had first admitted Gauri to two hospitals - government-run Sassoon Hospital in Pune and Geetanjali private hospital in Sangamner - for nearly six days. "When the medical expenses soared, the shepherd brought the injured Gauri to her parents' house and dumped her there," Khedkar told mid-day.

Vivek Pandit, chairman of a government-appointed committee to look into the status of schemes for tribals in Maharashtra, said, "It is the textbook case of utter poverty. They belong to a poorest tribal community called Katkari Samaj. It's the complete failure of the government as the parents of a seriously injured child took her to a bhagat instead of a hospital. Even after 75 years, the tribals are unable to exercise their rights because the government did not spread awareness among them."

Hospitals didn't inform cops

He also added, "The girl was admitted to two hospitals before she was dumped by the assaulter. She was badly injured and the wounds were clearly visible. How come the doctors in Sangamner and Pune's Sassoon hospital failed to complete the mandatory process and inform the local police there?"

"Had the hospital informed the police on time, her death declaration would have been recorded to unravel the mystery. But nothing happened and a tribal girl died. She was a minor who was forced to work as a bonded labour, which amounts to child labour," Pandit said.

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Day in September when Gauri died