A 12-year-old domestic help with multiple burns and assault injuries was rescued from a house in Sailashree Vihar in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Sunday morning, after which the owner of the house was arrested, police said.
The minor girl, who was allegedly subjected to physical and mental abuse for a long period, is currently undergoing treatment at the Capital Hospital and her condition is reported to be stable but under close medical observation.
Based on a complaint filed by child protection workers, Chandrasekarpur police registered a case and detained the employer, Umesh Chandra Samal, for questioning. Police said further investigations are underway and evidence is being collected.
According to police officers, a local resident informed the police and the child helpline number after the girl was found wandering the streets crying and in distress on Sunday morning.
Workers from the NGO Ruchika Social Service (Childline) rescued the girl and admitted her to the capital hospital. The medical examination revealed multiple marks of beatings and deep burn injuries on different parts of her body, officials said, adding that she may have been subjected to being branded repeatedly with a hot object as punishment for simple mistakes during domestic work.
Childline director Binodhar Senapati said the girl was from Keonjhar district and had worked as a domestic helper at the home for a year and a half.
She was allegedly paid $2000 per month. “She alleged that despite doing all the household chores assigned to her, she was repeatedly beaten on petty pretexts and subjected to severe torture. She also stated that she was branded with a hot iron rod several times,” Senapati said.
Unable to bear the alleged abuse any longer, the girl fled the house on Sunday morning.
The minor was placed under the care of the Child Welfare Committee. Police said they were examining the circumstances under which the minor was employed and whether there were any violations of child labor and juvenile protection laws.
