A serious case of inhuman treatment of a minor domestic help has come to light from Shaheen Bagh area of the capital Delhi. Police have rescued a 16-year-old girl from a house located in Abul Fazal Enclave-2. It is alleged that the girl was being made to do domestic work for about a year and was kept away from her parents. According to the police, the minor was allegedly made to work for about 20 hours a day. Not only this, he is also accused of repeatedly stabbing him with a hot press and a knife. It is alleged that he was not even given food for several days. After getting information about the matter, the police took action and brought him out of the house safely.
Revealed on NGO's complaint
Police said that this matter came to light after a complaint by 'Association for Voluntary Action', an NGO working for child rights. After receiving the complaint, a joint rescue operation was conducted on 3 and 4 November on the instructions of the SDM of Kalkaji. Representatives of Labor Department, Delhi Police and NGOs were involved in this campaign. The joint team safely freed the girl from the house located in Abul Fazal Enclave-2.
According to the police, the case came to light on the complaint of Association for Voluntary Action, an NGO working for child rights. On 3 and 4 November, on the instructions of the SDM of Kalkaji, the Labor Department, Delhi Police and representatives of NGOs jointly conducted the rescue operation. During this time, a girl resident of Shram Vihar slum, Shaheen Bagh was rescued from a house located in Abul Fazal Enclave-2.
Charge of work from 6 am to 2 am
According to the police, the woman named Sadaf allegedly used to make the teenager do household work in the house. The victim told in her statement that she had to start work at 6 in the morning and was made to work till around 2 in the night. During this time he had to do tasks like sweeping, washing utensils and cleaning the entire house. The minor told the police that he was given tea at around 11 in the morning. He was often served leftover food. According to the victim, many times she did not even get enough food.
Allegation of burning with hot press and knife
The victim has made serious allegations against the woman in her statement. He says that the woman living in the house used to repeatedly burn him with a hot press on his back, hands and buttocks. Apart from this, he was also hurt with a hot knife. It is alleged that the girl was kept away from her parents for about a year.
Injuries and burn marks found on the body
According to the NGO, during the rescue, many injuries and old wound marks were found on the girl's body. Burn marks were also found on his back and deep wounds on his head. The victim alleged that the woman living in the house used to beat her for small mistakes and used to mark her back, hands and buttocks with a hot press. He also accused her of causing injury with a hot knife. The minor told officials that once he was not given food and water for three consecutive days. In case of injury or ill health, instead of taking him to the doctor, he was given medicines purchased from medical stores.
Used to cover face while talking to parents
According to the police, the girl was not allowed to meet her parents. During about a year, he was allowed to talk to his parents on phone only two-three times. The NGO alleged that the girl's face was covered during phone conversations so that her parents could not see the injury marks on her body. Initially the girl was very scared to express her views in front of the authorities. It is alleged that she was threatened with death if she told anyone about the abuse.
Ordeal narrated in front of CWC, instructions for treatment in AIIMS
Later the girl narrated her ordeal before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). His statement was also recorded before the magistrate and presented before the committee. The committee directed the girl to be admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for treatment. According to the NGO, another woman had employed the girl in this house. In return for working for about a year, he was given only Rs 18,000. During this period, she was allegedly kept away from her parents and faced torture.
Orders to register case under two laws
The SDM has ordered Shaheen Bagh police station to register a case under the provisions of the Child and Adolescent Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. At present no one has been arrested in this case. Amidst this entire incident, the girl has expressed her desire to start her life afresh. The committee has been told that she wants to start studying again and wants to become a teacher in the future.
Follow the LALLURAM.COM MP channel on WhatsApp