SIALKOT, March 30: Police on Wednesday night recovered 16 male and female workers along with their children during a raid at a bricks kiln at Uddu Fata village, Pasrur tehsil.

Reports said kilnowner Nasarullah along with his 15 accomplices had allegedly detained labourers for demanding early payment of their pending wages. One of the illegally detained labourer, Allah Ditta, managed to escape from the torture cell and informed the Pasrur police.

A police team, led by DSP Waseem Akhtar, raided the place and recovered the detainees who were badly tortured by the accused and his men.

They were identified as M Ramzan, Muhammad Muneer, Muhammad Sharif, Saeed, Bilal, Muhammad Hanif, Muhammad Akhtar, Akhtar Mai, Kausar Bibi, Sughran Bibi, Naseem Mai, Irshad Mai, Nasreen, Fozia Bilal, Bashiran Bibi and their infants.

Police have registered a case (162/2006) under Section 365 of the PPC against Nasarullah and his accomplices, including Abbas, Mehmood Ahmad, Nasir Hameed, Abdul Baseer, Shakeel Ahmad and Zulfiqar Ahmad, with no arrest in this regard.

Later, Sialkot DPO Dr Tariq Khokhar told the press that special police teams were conducting raids for the arrest of other accused and recovery of four labourers Muhammad Rafiq, M Shafi, Muhammad Ramzan and Ghulam Mustafa.