The Dalit Solidarity Forum, Ambedkar King Study Circle (AKSC), Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Sikh Coalition, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), and India Civil Watch International (ICWI) together express deep concern over reports regarding the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) organization.
This critical case involves the human trafficking and severe labor exploitation of approximately 200 workers, most of whom are Dalits, tribals (Adivasis), and other marginalized communities brought from India to construct the Robbinsville, New Jersey temple complex — many of whom tragically suffered catastrophic injuries and lost their lives.
In May 2021, following reports of widespread abuse and the tragic death of worker Mohanlal on the premises due to institutional negligence, federal agents from the FBI, Department of Labor, and Homeland Security raided the Robbinsville temple, rescuing over 100 workers who had been confined to trailers, stripped of their passports, and paid approximately $1.20 per hour for 80-hour work weeks.
Soon after, a federal class-action lawsuit was filed, alleging severe violations of U.S. labor laws, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The civil wage theft case remains fully intact and is actively moving forward through federal court.
Behind the temple’s elaborate marble stonework lies a concealed history of caste-based exploitation. Dalit and Adivasi stone masons, cutters, and fabricators were treated as expendable tools, rendered invisible to visiting devotees, and subjected to systemic untouchability rules.
DSF USA continues to stand beside these courageous workers and their families, ensuring that no temple, corporation, or cultural institution can hide human trafficking behind religious sanctity.