Alert neighbours helped a city-based NGO rescue a 12-year-old girl, who was employed by a retired Air Force officer as domestic help, in Kodigehalli on Wednesday.
Neighbours alerted Paraspara, the NGO after they found the victim being allegedly tortured by the family. The girl hails from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand.
A team of volunteers rushed to Lottegollahalli in Kodigehalli police station limits, rescued the girl amid protests from the family members. The girl was later taken to the police station and a complaint filed against the retired Air Force officer and others before she was sent to a government home for girls.
“We have also filed a complaint with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC),” said managing trustee of Paraspara Venkatesh.
The girl said Anil Kumar had brought her from Jamshedpur after paying Rs. 300 to her mother, a construction labourer a month ago.
“The victim complained that the family members used to ill-treat her by hitting her and cursing her all the time,” Mr. Venkatesh said.
A fortnight ago, when the neighbours heard the victim’s cries, they rescued her and handed her over to the police. But instead of taking action against the family members, the police summoned the family and handed over the girl back to them, Mr. Venkatesh alleged.
The Kodigehalli police have taken up a case against Anil Kumar under the Child Labour Act.
