A few days ago, the incident of migrant workers from Odisha working in a brick kiln in Tiruvallur district, being beaten mercilessly by its owner, came to light through many news reports. More than 300 workers working in the kiln were attacked for wanting to go back to their homes in Odisha.
Due to the lockdown, the workers who were left to fend for themselves with owner leaving them in lurch decided to go back to Odisha. Upon coming to know of the workers plans, Munusamy and his brother Lakshmipathy beat the workers with logs. Around nine people were reported to be injured who were then admitted at the Tiruvallur Government hospital. Two of them were said to be in critical condition. Some of the workers returned to Munusamy’s place after receiving treatment.
The News Minute had published an article on the same describing the horrific incident in detail quoting the Superintendent of Police P Aravindhan. It also reported the sections under which the brick kiln owner was booked and mentioned that the owner was absconding. The report added that it was not a case of bonded labour and that the labourers would be sent home if they wished to leave quoting the District Sub Collector Ratna.
However, what The News Minute did not mention about the incident was that the owner of the brick kiln, Munuswamy was a DMK office bearer.
Munuswamy is the Ellapuram block treasurer of the DMK. Other news outlets like Dinamalar had mentioned the same.