Bhubaneswar:  In a serious case of exploitation of child labour, a minor boy, who was working in a noodles factory on the city outskirts here, was beaten black and blue allegedly by his employer for negligence in duty.

The incident came to fore after Child Line officials rescued the minor while he was crying on roadside in pain in a nearby area last evening.

Sources said the 12-year-old of Jharkhand was working a noodles factory at Botanda village in Sundarpada area on the city outskirts since long due to financial constraints. It is alleged that the owner of the factory, Rahul Kumar, often beat the boy when the latter fails to do any assigned work.

Yesterday, he was taken ill after being mercilessly beaten by his employer. When he was crying on roadside after that, Child Line officials rescued and took him to Capital Hospital. The officials later handed him over to Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

Following a complaint lodged at Airfield police station in this connection, the cops conducted a raid on the factory and arrested Rahul. Further investigation is on, sources added.