Delhi holds candlelight vigil for slain child labourer

More than a thousand people flocked to India Gate yesterday evening to join in a candlelight vigil in memory of 10-year-old Moin Khan, who was killed by his relative and employer.The vigil was organised by the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which also brought the boy’s family members for the event.According to Rakesh Senger, secretary of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the boy’s mother, grandmother and maternal grandmother were present on the occasion.“The family members broke down after seeing Moin’s photo. They were deeply moved to see such a large number of people gathered in Moin’s support,” said Senger.Moin was beaten to death on April 16 at Bharat Nagar in northwest Delhi and his uncle and employer, Salimullah, was arrested on charges of murder, according to the NGO.Moin’s brother and another boy were rescued from the employer.The police was informed of the incident just before the relatives were about to cremate the body. Salimullah had brought Moin from Madhubani in Bihar two years ago and employed him with two other children to work at his factory.Meena Chaudhary, district commissioner of police for northwest Delhi, said: “Moin was a relative of the alleged killer. Salimullah also employed three other children who are also less than seven years old. They used to work at his house.“Salimullah beat these children and very often starved them for days. He also threatened the boys from fleeing or narrating their tale to anyone. He used to burn their skin with hot iron rods even for a minor mistake at work,” said Chaudhary.