Woman arrested for forcing ST man into bonded labour

Udupi: Police arrested a woman in connection with a case of alleged bonded labour and atrocities against a member of a ST community, who was reportedly forced to work without wages for nearly 30 years in Kundapur taluk. The accused is Rajani Shetty, wife of Karunakara Shetty and a resident of Kabbailu, Uliyar Mane in Kanyana village. She was produced before the court, which remanded her to judicial custody, and she is currently lodged in Mangaluru district prison. The investigation was held under the guidance of Kundapur sub-division DSP HD Kulkarni.Following the incident, several officials from the police, social welfare department, labour department, as well as deputy tahsildar of Kundapur, the village administrative officer, and officials from Hattiyangadi gram panchayat visited the spot and met the victim, Naga, and initiated steps to provide him with rehabilitation and support. According to a complaint filed at the Kundapur Rural police station, Naga, 65, a resident of Kabbailu, Uliyar Mane in Kanyana village, belongs to the Scheduled Tribe (Koraga) community. Around 30 years ago, he was brought to work by Subbanna Shetty, alias Shanappa Shetty, a resident of Kabbailu in Hemmady. After Subbanna Shetty's death, his daughter, Rajani, and her husband, Karunakara Shetty, allegedly continued to employ Naga at their house. A case was registered under Section 3(1)(H) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.