Thane:
Two brick kiln labourers were allegedly thrashed severely by two brothers over a petty issue in the tribal Wada taluka of the district, police said today.
The victims identified as Pandurang and Devram Wagh (who is hearing and speech impaired), in order to earn some extra money, went to work at a farm after their daily work at the kiln owned by two brothers - Atul Vekhande and Abhijit Vekhande - in Moj village of Wada taluka on May 28, police inspector Sanjay Hazare said.
However, when the brothers got to know that the two labourers working for them had gone to work somewhere else, they reprimanded Devram, locked him in a room and allegedly beat him up and also passed some casteist remarks, Hazare said quoting a complaint lodged by the victims.
Later, when Pandurang went to enquire about Devram, he was also beaten up by the brother duo.
Nearly 17 tribal families, including those of the two victims, then met Wada tehsilar Dr Sandeep Chavan and complained that they were not even being paid minimum wages and were subjected to harassment.
The victims also complained to Wada police on Monday following which offences under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement) of IPC and section 3(1) and 10 of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 were lodged against the two brothers.
A search has been launched to nab the absconding duo, police added.