Bitten all over by dogs and brutally assaulted, allegedly by her employers, a young domestic help remained in illegal confinement at a house in the posh Vasant Kunj area of South Delhi for four months before she was rescued by a joint team on Monday.
The victim, who is in a critical condition, has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.
Shocked
“We were shocked when we first saw the victim. There were open wounds on her head at several places. Her eyes were protruding, ears were swollen and there were dog bites, scabs and cuts all over her body. We have rescued several people in the past, but we have never came across such an extreme case of physical and mental torture. Brutalised by her employers, the victim could barely speak when we asked about her parents. The girl, who appears to be a minor, revealed that she hails from Sahibganj in Jharkhand,” said Rishi Kant of non-government organisation Shakti Vahini.
Tip-off
The NGO contacted the local police following a tip-off that a girl had been kept in confinement and was being tortured by her employers.
“We reached the house along with some police personnel. An elderly woman answered the door, but refused to let us meet her stating that we would be allowed inside only after her daughter was back. We tried to reason with her and then requested the policemen to report the matter to the area Sub-Divisional Magistrate, but in vain,” said Mr. Kant.
When the woman’s middle-aged daughter returned home, she initially refused to let the NGO representatives meet her domestic help.
“She confronted us asserting that we did not have the right to enter her house. However, the police intervened and we were finally allowed to meet the girl. She was in a terrible condition. Enquiries from neighbours revealed that her employers have five dogs. We suspect that they let the dogs loose as there are fresh bite marks on her body,” said Mr. Kant.
“A case is being registered against the employers. Preliminary enquiries have revealed that the girl was brought to Delhi about four months ago and placed as a domestic help at the residence of the mother-daughter duo through an agency. The police will record the victim’s statement once she is declared fit by the doctors,” he added.
