Kochi, 6 April

A private marketing firm in Kerala has been accused of subjecting its underperforming employees to degrading treatment, including making them crawl on their knees like chained dogs and lick coins off the floor.

Soon after disturbing visuals of the same were aired by local TV channels on 5 April, the state labour department ordered a probe into the alleged inhuman workplace harassment. The police and labour department also launched separate probes to ensure the authenticity of the visuals.

However, in a twist, the man allegedly shown being harassed and tortured in the visual later told the media that there was no workplace harassment at the firm, contrary to the depiction shown in the footage.

"I am still working in the firm... these visuals were from some months ago forcefully taken by a person who was working as the manager of the institution then. He was later asked to quit by the management and he is now using the visuals to tarnish the owner of the firm," he claimed.

He reportedly gave the same statement to the police and labour department officials. Earlier in the day, Labour Minister V Sivankutty ordered a probe into the incident and directed the district labour officer to submit an immediate report on the incident.

The pictures allegedly show a man using a leash to force a man, who looks like a dog, to crawl on the floor on his knees. Later, some people claiming to be employees of the firm told a TV channel that those who fail to achieve targets are given such punishment by the firm's management.

According to the police, the incident allegedly took place in connection with a private marketing firm operating in Kaloor and the crime allegedly took place in nearby Perumbavoor. The police told reporters that they have not received any complaint and the owner has denied the allegations.

Quoting the owner of the firm, they said the alleged harassment might have taken place at a firm in Perumbavoor, which marketed and sold the products of the establishment in Kaloor.

"No case has been registered yet and investigation is underway," an official said. Labour Minister Sivankutty termed the scenes "shocking and disturbing" and said it cannot be accepted at any cost in a state like Kerala.

"I have ordered a probe into the incident and instructed the district Labour officer to submit a report in connection with the incident after carrying out a probe," he told the media.

The State Human Rights Commission registered a case in the incident based on a complaint by High Court advocate Kulathur Jayasingh. Meanwhile, the Kerala State Youth Commission also intervened and registered a suo moto case in the alleged harassment incident.

The panel directed the district police chief to submit a report in this regard. Commission Chairman M. Shajar said in a statement that legal action should be taken against such practices which are unacceptable in a civilised and democratic society. "As a civilised society, we must respond collectively against such anti-social tendencies," he said.