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A YouTuber's Video, A BJP MP's Call: How A Man Was Freed From 17 Years Of Bonded Labour
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Trapped in bonded labour for 17 years in Punjab, Uttarakhand's Rajesh was rescued after a video by YouTuber Jagjeet Singh caught the eye of MP Anil Baluni, who stepped in to help
In a startling case that highlights the persistence of modern slavery in India, a man from Uttarakhand has been rescued from bonded labour in Punjab's Tarn Taran district after 17 years of captivity. His ordeal came to light after a video filmed in a cowshed caught the attention of Garhwal MP Anil Baluni, who helped initiate his rescue.
The man, Rajesh, left Uttarakhand at the age of 18. For nearly two decades, his family had no knowledge of his whereabouts—until recently, when a YouTuber-activist filmed him living in dire conditions. The footage led to intervention from civil society and political leadership.
Baluni, who saw the viral video, immediately contacted Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to seek help in bringing Rajesh back. However, he credits the real breakthrough to grassroots efforts. Speaking to News18, Baluni said, 'I haven't done much. I just made few calls. The real work was done by a YouTuber Jagjeet Singh and team. It's them who took the risk to shoot the video and made us aware of it."
बहुत बहुत आभार महामहिम राज्यपाल जी, आपके त्वरित मानवीय सहयोग के लिए। आपने अमानवीय व्यवहार, प्रताड़ना और नारकीय जीवन जी रहे मेरे लोक सभा गढ़वाल से चमोली के युवक राजेश को मुक्ति दिलाई।मैं पंजाब पुलिस के डीजीपी श्री गौरव यादव जी, एसएसपी तरन तारण और सम्पूर्ण पुलिस टीम का भी…
— Anil Baluni (@anil_baluni) June 25, 2025
Jagjeet Singh, who also runs the NGO that rescued Rajesh, said they acted on a tip-off that claimed three men were being forced to work '20 hours a day." In a previous statement to The Indian Express, Singh confirmed the operation and added that Rajesh is now receiving medical treatment at Tarn Taran District Hospital.
News18.
Rajesh is currently under medical care, including psychological treatment for the trauma endured during his years in captivity. His return to Uttarakhand is expected once doctors clear him for travel.
While Rajesh's story may appear exceptional, it reflects a broader and deeply troubling pattern. A 2021 estimate by the Walk Free Foundation placed around 11 million people in India under modern slavery, which includes forced labour and debt bondage. According to Union government data, 315,302 people were released from bonded labour between 1978 and January 2023, with 94 per cent reportedly rehabilitated.
This case serves as a sobering contrast in India's growth narrative—where on one end, Indians are flying to the International Space Station, and on the other, individuals like Rajesh still live and suffer in invisible chains.
First Published:
June 28, 2025, 16:16 IST
