4 year-old boy held for 'violating' labour law freed on bail

Uday and his father Umesh Chandra Das sought ad-interim bail after issuance of an arrest warrant against them by the Cognizance Court 2.

According to the prosecution story, the district labour inspector lodged a case one-week before the last Eid-ul-Fitre against Uday and his father Umesh Chamdra Das for 'violating' labour laws.

The inspector alleged that the accused persons engaged child workers at their hotel- Uday Restaurant-- at Station Road in the town, violating labour laws.

In the case, he also alleged that they compelled child workers to work at their restaurant for more than eight hours a day.

Kazi Mohammed Faruque, lawyer of the accused, said the restaurant is named after Uday but its proprietor is his mother Banaya Das.

The labour inspector while filing the case did not take the age of Uday into consideration, the attorney said.

The child was crying when he appeared before the court on his father's lap yesterday.

Talking to this correspondent, Umesh and his wife said they are mentally upset thinking their child's future as harassment may have a psychological impact on him.

"I do not know what was the fault with me and my child", he said after coming out of the court.