Kundapur: Woman arrested for forcing tribal man into bonded labour for 30 years

Mangalore Today News Network

Kundapur, Mar 12, 2026: Police have arrested a woman for allegedly forcing a 65-year-old man from the Koraga community into bonded labour for nearly three decades without paying him wages.

The accused, identified as Rajani Shetty, allegedly kept the victim, Naga, a resident of Kanyana village, as a bonded labourer at her residence in Kabbailu, Hemmady.

A police team led by Kundapur DySP H.D. Kulkarni arrested the woman and produced her before a court, which remanded her to judicial custody. She has been lodged in the district prison in Mangaluru.

According to the complaint, the victim was made to carry out menial tasks such as cleaning cattle sheds, removing dung, cleaning the house toilet and performing other household chores. He was reportedly forced to live in the cattle shed and keep his food, utensils and clothes there.

He was also allegedly made to eat in the same place and was forced to work continuously for nearly 30 years without any payment.

Additional SP Sudhakar S. Nayak visited the house where the incident occurred and gathered details. Officials from the Social Welfare Department, Labour Department and other local authorities were also present during the inspection.

Authorities have been directed to take steps to rehabilitate the victim.