New Delhi: A 16-year-old girl employed as a domestic help in southeast Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh was rescued from Moradabad after alleging that her employer “forced her to work for up to 20 hours a day, assaulted her with a hot iron rod and deprived her of food for days”.Delhi Police has arrested a woman in connection with the incident. The rescue operation was initiated following a complaint by the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA).In a statement to police, the minor alleged that she was subjected to severe physical abuse and cruelty at her employer’s residence.“The teenager sustained burn injuries on her back, deep wounds on her head and scratches on her face. She was allowed to speak to her parents only twice over video calls during the entire year. She was also made to survive on leftover food and paid a mere Rs 18,000 for a year’s work. The extent of cruelty she has endured is deeply disturbing,” said Dhananjay Tingal, national coordinator of AVA.Following AVA’s complaint, a joint team comprising police, labour department officials and personnel from the SDM’s office conducted a raid at the accused’s residence. During the inquiry, it emerged that the girl had been sent to Moradabad by the house owner. She was subsequently produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which directed that she undergo a medical examination.According to the statement, the minor told the CWC that she had been allegedly assaulted repeatedly and recalled one instance in which she was allegedly denied food and water for three consecutive days. She also claimed that her employer, whom she referred to as “madam”, beat her for minor mistakes and gave her over-the-counter medicines for her injuries.The statement further alleged that the accused made the girl cover her face during video calls with her parents to conceal her injuries and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.On the directions of CWC, the teenager has been admitted to AIIMS for treatment.A case has been registered under provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Shaheen Bagh police station, and further investigation is underway.
