Nagpur: In a deeply disturbing incident, a 10-year-old minor girl who had been employed as a maid servant was subjected to severe abuse and torture by the family she was working for. The horrifying incident came to light in Atharva Nagari, located on Pipla-Besa Road in Nagpur, when vigilant neighbours rescued the girl from the clutches of her abusive couple. Swift action by the Hudkeshwar Police led to the arrest of the family’s head on Thursday.
According to reports, a couple residing in Atharva Nagari, identified as Ishtaq Ahmed Khan (39) and his wife Heena (26), had allegedly purchased the young girl from Punjab-Haryana in 2021 for a sum of Rs 50,000, with the intention of employing her as a household help. Shockingly, over the course of the past four years, the girl was subjected to unimaginable torment, including physical abuse and burns inflicted on her private parts.
The girl, who was held captive by the couple in Row House No. 3 of Bungalow No. 19, was denied the freedom to leave the house and was forced into captivity. Her daily life consisted of performing all household chores and enduring physical assaults for any perceived shortcomings. It has been reported that the couple’s son also abused the girl, while Khan, a smoker, allegedly inflicted burns on her.
The harrowing ordeal of the minor girl came to an end when employees from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) arrived to disconnect the power connection due to unpaid bills. Observing the girl’s distress, she managed to signal for help from a window within the locked house. Alerted by the MSEDCL technicians, neighbours swiftly sprang into action, breaking down the door.
Upon gaining entry, they found the girl locked in the bathroom, visibly traumatized and in dire need of assistance. The Khan family had left her with some bread packets for sustenance before departing for Bengaluru. The concerned neighbours immediately took her into their care, providing her with comfort and care. Shockingly, they also discovered burn injuries covering her body.
In her state of shock, the young girl could barely communicate with the police, but she managed to reveal that her parents lived in Punjab and had sold her to the Khan couple due to their impoverished circumstances. Hudkeshwar Police, alerted to the situation, promptly informed senior officers and established contact with their counterparts in Bengaluru.
Based on the information provided, the Bengaluru Police apprehended the Khan couple and subsequently handed them over to the Nagpur Police for further investigations.
The Hudkeshwar Police have filed a case against the accused couple, and further investigations into this harrowing case are currently underway.
Efforts are being made to provide the minor girl with the necessary care and support she requires to recover from her traumatic experiences. The community’s swift action in rescuing her serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from harm.
