Left to starve for alleged beer theft, Palakkad tribal man's ordeal reveals slave-like existence

A 54-year-old tribal man, Vellayyan, who was rescued from days of torture in captivity at a farmstay in Palakkad, believes he would have been killed had his friend Thirunavakkarassu not alerted residents. His ordeal came to light on Thursday when local residents, along with panchayat authorities, intervened and rescued him from the resort where he was locked up and tortured, allegedly by his employer, after being accused of stealing liquor.

“They tied my legs, beat me continuously for five days, and locked me in a toilet-sized room,” recalls Vellayyan, after being rescued from the Western Gateway Farm Stay in Muthalamada. “No one could hear me scream. The farmland is nearly 45 acres, completely isolated from the outside world.” 

He had been employed by Ranganayi, the mother of the property owner Prabhu (40), to take care of cows. For over ten years, he lived and worked on the property. He was never paid during this entire period—only provided with food, alcohol, or beedis when he asked for money.

The alleged torture began last Sunday when Vellayyan drank from a beer bottle he found on the property. Later that evening, Prabhu confronted him, holding three bottles—two of them open—and accused him of stealing more than 60 bottles. Though Vellayyan pointed out the one bottle he had consumed, Prabhu and his men began to beat him.

“They tied my hands and legs and hit me with iron pipes. They choked me. I couldn’t bathe, and I was only allowed to use the bathroom once a day under guard. I had to urinate inside the room. I slept on an iron cot, received food only once a day, and didn’t change my clothes for five days,” he says. “Usha (another employee) and Prabhu beat me the most. Ranganayi visited occasionally, promising to speak to her son, but nothing ever changed.”
According to Vellayyan, the key to the locked room was with Usha, who ignored his repeated pleas, even just to use the toilet. “Even prisoners are treated better,” he says. 

His ordeal revealed a disturbing pattern. Six months earlier, another employee, Thirunavakkarassu, was allegedly confined in the same room for nine days and was beaten so severely that he lost sight in one eye. Thirunavakkarassu, who worked on the farm for over 20 years, grew suspicious after not seeing Vellayyan for several days.

Overhearing a conversation between Prabhu and Ranganayi, he discovered Vellayyan’s confinement. Fearing for his life, he walked four kilometres to alert local Dalit leader Shivarajan, who returned with nearly 50 villagers and panchayat officials. When they arrived, Prabhu and his associates fled the property. Kollengode police were then informed and rescued Vellayyan.

“I wouldn’t have survived if Thirunavakkarassu hadn’t taken that step,” says Vellayyan. “If they had killed me, no one would have known. They would have buried me somewhere on the property.” He adds that his life on the farm was one of constant surveillance and fear. “I delivered milk to the collection centre. If I came back five minutes late, Prabhu would assault me. He never let me go out freely, afraid I would reveal what was happening here.” In addition to caring for cows, Vellayyan did odd jobs like collecting coconuts and gardening. Despite working every day for a decade, he says he never received any payment. “When I asked, they gave me a beedi or some liquor and claimed I owed them for food and shelter.”

Vellayyan says he had no family to turn to. His daughter, married and living in Tamil Nadu, has no contact with him. His small house in Muchamkundu collapsed years ago, and he lacks the money to rebuild it. Local leader Shivarajan claims Prabhu made workers sign documents falsely stating they had received their wages.  Vellayyan was later admitted to Palakkad District Hospital and discharged on Sunday.

After the rescue, Thirunavakkarassu went missing for two days, hiding in a nearby forest, fearing retaliation. Police later found him. He, too, claims he was never paid for 20 years of work. He was punished when he tried to stop another worker from taking beer bottles stored on the farm. 
Thirunavakkarassu lives in a small makeshift shelter on the property. He is originally from Tamil Nadu and has a wife and two children living at Chavakkad in Thrissur. 

He also recalls being forced by Prabhu to transport sandalwood allegedly cut from the forest. “When I realised what it was and refused, they beat me. One of them slammed my face into a bike brake lever, and I lost sight in one eye. They refused to take me to the hospital. My son came from Thrissur and took me. I had to borrow ₹50,000 for treatment. When I tried to file a police complaint, I was told there were no witnesses.”
Since the injury, he has been unable to work properly and now assists Ranganayi with minor chores. “We have no money, no way to live,” he says. 

Locals allege that the farm stay is operating illegally without a license. Panchayat authorities said they are unaware of a permit being issued to the building. Kollengode police have begun a probe and have registered a case under charges of wrongful confinement, voluntarily causing hurt and under the relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. An investigation is underway to trace Prabhu and his accomplices.