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New Delhi. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case of alleged harassment and inhumane treatment of bonded laborers at a paper plate manufacturing factory in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh and has sought a detailed report from the Uttar Pradesh government. The Commission has considered this case as a case to serious violation of human rights.

According to reports published in the media, 12 workers were allegedly made to work as hostages for about one and a half years in a paper plate factory located in Mandi village of Muzaffarnagar. It is alleged that they were made to work continuously till late night, while they were not provided adequate food, fair wages and even basic facilities.

It was told that one of the victimized workers somehow managed to escape from the factory and lodged a complaint at Titavi police station. After the complaint, the police conducted a raid and freed other workers from the factory.

Medical examination has revealed injuries, cut marks, broken bones and signs of prolonged physical torture on the bodies of many workers. Police investigation has also confirmed the death of one person. Also, investigation is going on whether any other person also died during this period.

The National Human Rights Commission said that if the facts published in the media are found to be true, it is a very serious violation of human rights. The Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh and the Director General of Police (DGP), directing them to submit a detailed report of the case within two weeks.

Apart from this, the Commission has informed the District Magistrate of Muzaffarnagar about the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Ministry of Labor and Employment and Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976 Instructions have been given to ensure investigation of the entire matter as per the provisions of. The Commission has also said that all the freed laborers e-shram portal They should be registered and as per the advisory issued by the Commission on December 8, 2021, action should be taken regarding their rehabilitation and other necessary assistance.

According to media reports published on June 25, 2026, the victimized laborers are residents of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Nepal. It is alleged that they were brought to the factory from railway stations, bus stands and other public places by luring them with employment, regular salary, food and accommodation facilities.

After reaching the factory, their mobile phones and identity cards were allegedly taken away so that they could not contact their families. Reports also claim that pitbull breed dogs were used to scare the workers and prevent them from escaping.

Now the investigation of the case will proceed under the supervision of the National Human Rights Commission. Based on the report sought by the Commission, decisions regarding further action and rehabilitation of the victimized laborers are likely to be taken.