Following this newspaper’s front page report, the police book one of the brothers accused of enslaving tribal people in his brick kiln in Bhiwandi taluka under IPC, POCSO and atrocities Acts
Villagers of Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada rejoice after getting their release certificates. Pics/Rajesh Gupta
On the day mid-day published a report about the enslaving of dozens of tribal families in Bhiwandi taluka, two FIRs were registered against Rajaram Patil, a private contractor who runs a stone quarry and brick kiln with his brother, Chandrakant. One woman and one minor registered the FIRs against Rajaram over sexual abuse at Ganeshpuri police station on Thursday. Meanwhile, the 43 tribal villagers who were allegedly subjected to bonded labour by the duo received their release certificates from the tehsildar of Bhiwandi taluka.
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One of the complainants is a 22-year-old married woman who has two children. The tribal woman has alleged that she was raped by Rajaram, who also trapped her into cutting grass for his cattle.
The Patil brothers’ bungalow
“In August 2020, Rajaram alias Raj Kathod Patil called me for work. When I reached his house, he told me to cut the grass in the field to feed the cattle. When I told him that my husband will do the work, he replied saying that my husband is a drunkard and he often leaves the work half done,” the woman said in her complaint submitted late in the evening on August 25.
“Despite my refusal, he forcefully handed me over Rs 2,000 cash,” the complainant said, adding that Rajaram’s men visited her sometime between August 10 and 15 and told her to report for work.
Accused Rajaram Patil; Rajaram’s brother, Chandrakant Patil
Around that month, when the woman visited Rajaram’s residence for work, she was raped at two instances. “I was working till late at his house one day, it was around 10.30 pm. Rajaram threatened me that if I do not agree to his demands, he will kill both my children. He then raped me and threatened me again to not tell anyone,” the woman said.
“We have added sections 376 (2) (n) (commiting rape repeatedly on the same woman), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” an officer from Ganeshpuri police station said.
Villagers of Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada hold up their release certificates. Pics/Rajesh Gupta
In the second FIR of sexual assault and harassment, registered at the same police station, a 17-year-old girl has alleged that Rajaram forced her to get naked in a room next to a gym at his house. “The girl alleged that the accused also touched her inappropriately. We have registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC and provisions of the POCSO Act,” said the officer. “Since both the complainants belong to a primitive tribe, relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been added,” said the officer.
The cases have been sent to Deputy Superintendent of Police Dilip Godbole for further investigation. Rajaram has not been arrested so far.
Labourers released
Meanwhile, Tehsildar of Bhiwandi taluka Adhik Patil issued release certificates to all 43 members of tribal families who had been enslaved by the Patil brothers in Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada village.
Bhiwandi taluka’s tehsildar, Adhik Patil, handed over the release certificate to one of the villagers on Thursday
“On August 26, Bhiwandi tehsildar issued released certificates to all the enslaved tribals staying in Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada. Now I hope the taesildar will provide immediate relief to all of them,” said Vivek Pandit, founder of Shramjeevi Sangathana, which fights for tribal rights in Maharashtra.
On August 26, mid-day reported about the enslaving of the villagers in a front-page story. The 43 tribals come from 18 families living in substandard conditions at Bhiwandi taluka’s Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada village. “I also hope that the police register an FIR against the accused for violating the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act,” Pandit added.
Wait continues for Pawars
Bonded labourer Kalu Pawar’s family members are yet to be issued a release certificate from the executive magistrate concerned, said Pandit, who plans to approach the Bombay High Court (HC) with a writ petition. “Also, total 24 tribals were released across the state during 2019 and 2020. They, too, have not been issued any release certificates nor monetary relief. I will approach Bombay HC to seek immediate relief for all the 25 tribal families, including Pawar’s, from the state government,” said Pandit during a press conference on Thursday.
The release certificates issued to the tribals
Pawar’s wife Savitra claimed that she was approached by accused Ramdas Korde’s associate with Rs 20,000 cash on July 26 to dissuade her from registering an FIR. “But I rejected the offer,” said Savitra. Pawar died by suicide on July 13 in Mokhada taluka of Palghar district. He was allegedly enslaved by Korde for taking loan of R500 to buy a kafan for his 13-year-old son who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in November 2020.
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