Guwahati, Sept 28: Assam police have detained an Army officer and his wife on charges of abusing and causing severe injuries to their minor domestic help. The young girl, who came forward with horrifying allegations, claimed that she was subjected to frequent beatings and forced to eat from the garbage. As a result of the reported abuse, she suffered from damaged teeth, cut scars on her tongue, and burn marks covering her body.
The incident came to light when Mayank Kumar, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dima Hasao, Assam, received information about the juvenile girl from Haflong, who had accompanied the couple to Palampur in Himachal Pradesh, being brutally mistreated.
During the subsequent investigation, substantial evidence implicating the Army major and his wife emerged. Consequently, they were arrested in connection with the case and subsequently placed in judicial custody, according to SP Mayank Kumar.
The victim revealed harrowing details of her ordeal, recounting that she was stripped naked and subjected to relentless torture, even to the point of being forced to lick her own blood. She described being confined to a room and enduring physical abuse from the army officer’s wife, who would use a rolling pin to beat her if she failed to complete her household tasks satisfactorily.
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Medical examinations conducted on the girl confirmed a broken nose and extensive scratches on her tongue, corroborating her accounts of severe physical abuse. Shockingly, she alleged that the abuse had persisted for a horrifying six-month period, during which she was frequently denied clothing.
In contrast, the accused couple claimed that the girl had accidentally fallen down a flight of stairs, resulting in her injuries. However, given the evidence and the victim’s detailed testimony, authorities decided to proceed with legal action against the accused.
A formal complaint has been filed against the couple under stringent statutes, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and laws related to crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The couple had initially employed the girl as a babysitter. After returning to Assam from Palampur, the girl confided in her family about the horrific abuse she had endured. In response, the victim’s mother filed a police report against the accused Army officer and his wife. The young girl is currently receiving medical treatment at the Haflong Civil Hospital, and the case is under active investigation.
This shocking incident highlights the importance of protecting the rights and well-being of domestic workers, particularly minors, and underscores the need for strict enforcement of laws designed to safeguard vulnerable individuals from abuse and exploitation.
