Tamil Nadu gas leak deaths: Probe uncovers child labour, identity fraud
An investigation into the fatal gas leak at a seafood unit in Tamil Nadu that killed 15 workers has revealed allegations of illegal recruitment of minors and forgery of identity documents. The deaths occurred on June 21 at the St. Peter’s & Paul’s Seafoods Export Facility in Thiruvallur district.
Thirteen of the victims belong to the Juanga tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) from Odisha. Three others remain critical and on life support in a Chennai hospital.
The First Information Report (FIR), filed on a complaint from the assistant labour officer of Telkoi in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, names Srikanta Juanga as a middleman. Authorities allege he illegally recruited around 24 workers from the Telkoi block by promising better employment opportunities and deployed them at the factory without proper records.
According to the complaint, a preliminary inquiry found that 11 of the 24 recruited workers were minors. Five of the 13 deceased were also minors. The document states that minor girls were allegedly employed in hazardous work using forged identities, specifically by using Aadhaar credentials of adult women without their knowledge.
For instance, Jamini Juanga, 16, was allegedly engaged in the name of Parbati Juanga through a forged Aadhaar card. Parbati is alive and present at her residence, the labour officer confirmed.
The authorities have flagged potential violations including illegal recruitment of migrant workers, employment of minors in hazardous occupations, identity fraud, forgery, cheating, and trafficking-related offences under labour and criminal laws. They have called for a thorough investigation and legal action against all responsible, including recruiting agents, intermediaries, and any officials or representatives of the establishment involved.
The promoter of the seafood unit could not be contacted for comment. Police sources said they are verifying the complaint.
