MIRPURKHAS: The district and sessions court ordered release of 16 bonded peasants, including women and children, after recording their statements on Monday.

They were recovered by Phulladiyoon police after a raid on court orders on the farmland of landlord Umeed Ali on Sunday.

The court ordered the raid after receiving an application from Bhooro Kolhi a few days ago in which he stated that his relatives were detained at the farmland where the landlord was subjecting them to forced labour.

He had deprived them of all basic facilities including medical treatment, free movement and share in crops and wages, he said and requested the court to order that they be released immediately from the illegal detention.

The liberated peasants were identified as Kewal, Kirshan, Deeno, Nano, Shrimti Pari, Shrimti Resham, Shrimti Nanji and others.