In northern India, many people are driven to take out loans for basic needs because of extreme poverty. Eight families (forty-three people in total), desperate for help, requested loans to provide food for their children. They did not know at the time that the individual who handled their loans was involved in the trafficking business.
Once the loan was given, the trafficker demanded they repay it quickly, and when they were unable to do so, he took control of their lives.
They were forcefully evacuated from their homes and transported to a brick-making factory (brick kiln).
Upon arrival, these families became modern-day slaves, working from 4 am to 11 pm with only a one-hour lunch break in the hot sun. This went on every day for two years.
Justice Hub investigators caught wind of the large number of people working at the brick kiln. The team secretly met with the families to learn of their situation and obtained undercover video footage of this violation of their human rights.
The recordings were sent to the local government officials, urging action. A rescue plan ensued and after a month of coordination, they waited for the right time to raid the brick kiln.
On June 17, Justice Hub members and local law enforcement were able to infiltrate the operation and successfully rescue all of the families.
Now free, the families have returned to their village and are working with the Justice Hub to receive the government aid to which they are entitled and to bring the trafficker to justice.
