The Delhi Commission for Women on Thursday said it has rescued a 12-year-old girl from a locked bungalow in Vikaspuri, the owners of which had allegedly employed the victim as help and abused her.
The women’s commission said the action was initiated on Tuesday after it received a complaint on its helpline number.
“The DCW team found the girl alone in the house, which belongs to a transport businessman. The team confirmed from the guards that a minor was employed in the house last year. Along with Delhi police team, the DCW entered the house and found the girl locked inside,” said a DCW official.
‘Traumatised state’
Stating that the girl was found in a “traumatised state,” the official added, “The victim said she belongs to a remote village in Jharkhand and was brought to Delhi a year back by a couple — Suresh and Anita. She alleged that she was deprived of food and care and was often beaten by the owner. She had to cook and clean the house and her salary was paid to Anita.”
Following the rescue, the minor was taken to the Vikaspuri police station and then shifted to a shelter home after medical examination, the DCW said.
“She was produced before the Child Welfare Committee [CWC] and her statement was recorded. The CWC directed the police to verify her age, trace her parents and bring them to Delhi. The DCW team has requested the CWC for proper rehabilitation for the girl as well as recovery of her wages,” the official said.
“On the direction of CWC, we are verifying details after which necessary legal action will be taken,” said a senior police officer.
The women’s commission claimed that the owners of the house “justified the beating by saying that she had stolen a phone.”
DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal said, “Child labour continues unchecked in Delhi. Most of the victims are brought from villages in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. It is sad that educated people make poor children slog for them and then torture them. What is worse is that the police fail to register a case against them. The owners should be immediately arrested.”
