Child Labour - Gurgaon

MINOR GIRL WORKING AS HELP THRASHED BY EMPLOYERS, RESCUED IN GURGAON

Gurgaon: Thirteen-year-old Lakhi, who was being forced to work as a bonded labourer for the past seven months, was rescued in a joint operation by the National Commission for Women (NCW) and child line, Gurgaon, on Saturday from a house in Kendriya Vihar, Sector 56.

Reportedly, not only was the girl forced to work without being paid, she was being subjected to severe physical abuse and her body bore several signs of heatless beating.

The accused couple Debok Das and Poromita Sharma, in whose house Lakhi worked as a maid-servant, are well educated and financially well off. They have two children aged four and six. While Debok works as a manager in a BPO, his wife Poromita is a lab technician.

Manju Hembrum, member of NCW, had come down from Delhi after receiving information about the ill-treatment the minor was being subjected to. She said, "We were shocked to see her condition. It seems she was beaten up regularly."

Reportedly, one of Lakhi's eyes was swollen, three of her teeth were broken and there were burn marks on her arms and back. Lakhi complained it was because she was burnt with a hot pan on several occasions. She had head injuries as she was reportedly thrashed against the wall.

Meanwhile, the accused, who hail from Guwahati, Assam, were arrested and booked under various sections uncluding Section 23/26 under the Juvenile Justic Act (2000), Section 16 of Bonded Labour Act (1976), Sections 323,325,324,367,368 and 374.

Nishikant, director, child line, Gurgaon, said, "What is shocking is the fact that they are a well-educated, working couple who have two children." A mobile phone from the accused was recovered, on which footage of the victim doing situps, holding her ears, was recorded. "This suggests the couple are no less than psychopaths, " ruled Nishikant.