Nuapada: As many as 22 migrant workers, including six women and six children, were rescued by the Jonka police of Nuapada district from a train at Khariar Road railway station in the district while they were being taken to work in brick-kilns in a neighbouring state, Tuesday.
The labourers were going from Kantabanji of Bolangir district to Hyderabad to work in a brick kiln by the Puri-Surat Express train.
Acting on a tip-off, the Jonka police conducted a raid at Khariar Road railway station and rescued the labourers. The labourers are residents of Belpada, Saintala and Patnagarh areas in Bolangir district. The police later took them in custody and informed the district labour officer, who reached the Jonka police station for an inquiry.
Sources said the labour officer later contacted Bolangir district labour officer to hand over the rescued labourers. Meanwhile, police detained a middleman identified as Ashwini Pati, who was accompanying the workers, and are interrogating him.
PNN