India, June 25 -- A labourer's desperate escape from a factory in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district uncovered what police described as a bonded labour racket, in which workers were allegedly confined, tortured and forced to work for months under inhuman conditions. They were also not paid the promised monthly wages of Rs.12,000, officials aware of the matter said.

Police said the case came to light after Vikram, a labourer from Rajasthan's Jodhpur district, scaled the boundary wall of a disposable leaf bowl and paper plate manufacturing unit in Mandi village and reached Titawi police station on June 22.

His complaint prompted a police raid that led to the rescue of 12 workers and the arrest of two people, officials said.

Senior su...