BENGALURU, Feb. 27 -- At least 18 bonded labourers were rescued on Thursday from a shed in Hassan district after one of the victims escaped and alerted his family, officials said.

"We received credible information that several labourers were being held illegally and forced to work without wages. Based on this, we conducted a joint operation with the revenue department and successfully rescued 18 bonded labourers," said Hassan additional superintendent of police M Thammaiah.

The rescue took place in Juttanahalli village in Belur taluk after officials acted on information provided by the family of one of the victims, Eeranna. His mother, an elderly woman from Vijayapura, had approached media and authorities claiming her son was being held...