Allegedly tortured by her female employer for the past two years, a teenage domestic help slipped from the 11th floor of Kanishka Towers in Sector 34 here on Wednesday while trying to escape. However, the 13-year-old had a miraculous escape as she got trapped in a net meant to keep birds away and landed on the 10th floor instead. Her employer Sneha, a BTech student at a private institute here, was arrested on Thursday and sent to jail.
The girl was rescued by residents of the group housing society and the matter was reported to the police.
Case registered
A case has been registered at Sarai Khawaja police station under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The girl, who has several injury and burn marks on the back, purportedly told the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) that Ms. Sneha would hit her repeatedly with a rolling pin and pour boiling water on her back to torture her.
“She has injury marks on the hand, forehead and knees, and burn marks on the back,” said Rishi Kant of non-government organisation Shakti Vahini.
The matter came to light when complainant Monika Sachdeva spotted the girl lying in the balcony of the flat next door on Wednesday afternoon. Since the flat was locked, the society supervisor climbed into the balcony to help the child regain consciousness. The flat was finally opened and the girl brought out. Ms. Sachdeva and the other residents reported the matter to the police and the CWC in the evening.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kant claimed the police were trying to shield the accused.
“The girl’s parents work as labourers in a mine owned by Ms. Sneha’s father in Patna. The girl came to Faridabad along with the accused two years back to work as domestic help. It is a case of bonded labour. Also, the police did not invoke relevant sections under the Indian Penal Code despite serious injuries,” he said.
Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights member Bal Krishan Goel said: “Prima facie, it seems to be a case of bonded labour. The child was depressed because of regular torture and took this step. We will investigate every angle and strong action will be taken against the accused.”
Reacting to the incident, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi tweeted: “Cases of minors kept as domestic help should be strongly denounced. I urge all to come forth against #childlabour.”
