- By Chetna Shree
- Sun, 26 Apr 2026 04:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Jharkhand: A group of around 100 migrant workers from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district have returned home over the past two days after fleeing a textile factory in Tamil Nadu's Namakkal. The labourers alleged that they were subjected to physical assault by management and denied their wages. They further claimed that they received no assistance from authorities during the ordeal.
Situation Worsened After Dispute Inside Factory
Workers alleged that the situation escalated after a dispute inside the factory, following which some employees were allegedly beaten. Speaking to The Indian Express, Manki Hessa, a resident of Khutpani village, said that factory staff assaulted him after a disagreement over work.
"They slapped me first and then beat me with sticks and machine parts. My hand swelled up," he said, adding that the medical expenses following the incident had to be borne by fellow workers.
Hessa further stated that when many coworkers raised their concerns and told them about leaving the factory, the factory staff began assaulting them.
Another worker, Anil Samad, a resident of Chakradharpur, told The Indian Express that he and his colleagues fled the factory as tensions escalated.
"Many youths have been working there for the last couple of years. My group and I went there three or four months ago. There were problems with food, rules and the behaviour of staff. When we raised our concerns and told them about leaving the factory, they started assaulting us and warned us not to leave," Samad said.
Woman Employee Alleges Assault After She Attempted To Leave The Premises
The migrant workers further alleged that women employees were also subjected to harassment and physical assault. Priska Horo, a worker from the same village as Hessa, claimed she was assaulted while attempting to leave the factory premises.
Horo noted that while the first four months were peaceful, the staff had recently been harassing the workers. She alleged that a factory staff member mishandled and beat her, an incident that Hessa reportedly captured on camera.
"I was not allowed to leave the premises and was beaten. When workers were initially not allowed to leave the premises, a few managed to escape by climbing walls or sneaking out," she was quoted as saying.
Workers Flee Tamil Nadu Mill, Allege Physical Assault, Unpaid Wages
The workers further alleged that they were forced to cover their own expenses to return home. "We did not receive our pending wages. We had to arrange money for tickets on our own, sometimes borrowing from family members," Samad said.
Around 250 to 300 people from Jharkhand were employed at the unit, and roughly half have returned so far, with the remaining workers expected to arrive in the coming days.
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Intervenes
After the matter came to light and several videos were circulated on social media, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren took cognisance of the situation and directed the administration to look into the matter.
Officials from the Labour Department stated that the workers were recruited around three to four months ago by an agent to work at a textile factory in Namakkal. After the matter was reported to the state Migrant Control Room on April 22, the Labour Department coordinated with the workers to facilitate their return.