India, June 24 -- MEERUT In a chilling exposure of human trafficking and modern-day slavery, the police have dismantled a brutal bonded labour racket operating out of a disposable leaf bowl and paper plate manufacturing facility in Mandi village of UP's Muzaffarnagar district. A coordinated raid led to the rescue of 12 captive workers and arrest of two accused, uncovering a horrific regime of physical abuse, systemic torture and suspected custodial deaths within the compound.

The operation was initiated after a labourer, identified as Vikram, a native of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, successfully scaled the factory walls and fled to the Titawi police station. Vikram presented local authorities with graphic accounts of illegal confinement, starvati...