A 16-year-old girl allegedly subjected to prolonged physical abuse, starvation and confinement while working as a domestic help in southeast Delhi's Shaheen Bagh has been rescued, with police arresting a 45-year-old woman accused of employing her illegally.
The girl was allegedly made to work for nearly 20 hours every day, repeatedly burnt with a hot iron and a heated knife, and beaten over minor mistakes. She was also reportedly denied food and water for days and prevented from meeting her parents during the nearly one year she spent at the house.
Police registered a case at Shaheen Bagh police station on Wednesday under relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and arrested the woman, officials said.
The incident came to light after a neighbour alerted a child helpline about the alleged exploitation. The Association for Voluntary Action (AVA), an NGO working in the field of child protection, subsequently lodged a complaint with the authorities.
Joint operation leads to rescue from Moradabad
Following the complaint, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kalkaji was informed, after which a joint team comprising officials from the Labour Department and Shaheen Bagh police station conducted a raid at the accused woman's residence on Tuesday.
However, the team did not find the minor at the premises. During the inquiry, officials learnt that the family had recently sent her to Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh to look after the accused woman's elderly mother.
The joint team subsequently brought the girl back from Moradabad and produced her before the SDM and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) the following day.
The girl was employed at a house in Abul Fazal Enclave-II, according to reports. Her rescue followed intervention by the authorities and the child protection organisation.
Girl alleges repeated branding, starvation and physical assault
In her statement before the CWC, the teenager described the alleged abuse she had endured while working at the house.
She said she was forced to perform household chores from 6am until 2am, leaving her with very little time to rest. Her responsibilities reportedly included sweeping, mopping, washing utensils and cleaning the house.
She alleged that her employer repeatedly branded her back, hands and hips with a hot iron and a heated knife. She was also beaten whenever she made minor mistakes.
According to her statement, she was given tea at around 11am and was frequently served leftover food. On one occasion, she was allegedly denied food and even drinking water for three consecutive days.
The girl also claimed that instead of being taken to a doctor for her injuries, she was given medicines purchased from a medical store.
Police said the minor had multiple burn marks across her back, deep wounds on her head and scratches and other injuries on her face. The severity of her injuries prompted the CWC to direct that she be admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for medical treatment.
Parents allegedly allowed to speak to her only a few times
The teenager further told the committee that she was prevented from meeting her parents, who live in a jhuggi-jhopri (JJ) cluster near the accused woman's residence.
She was allegedly allowed to speak to them only two or three times over the nearly one year she spent at the house. During one video call, her face was reportedly covered to prevent her parents from noticing the injuries on her body.
The girl also alleged that the accused threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.
She was reportedly paid only Rs 18,000 for nearly a year of domestic work. The girl told the CWC that she wanted the accused to be punished for the alleged abuse and hoped to resume her education and become a teacher.
Action initiated under child protection and labour laws
Following the teenager's statement, the Kalkaji SDM initiated action under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
The case has brought attention to the alleged employment of a minor in domestic work and the circumstances in which she was kept away from her family for an extended period.
The girl has been produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which directed her admission to AIIMS in view of the injuries she sustained. Police have registered a case and arrested the 45-year-old woman in connection with the alleged exploitation.