Nagpur: A 15-year-old girl, trafficked from Jharkhand to work as a domestic help, was rescued on Sunday from a residence in the Bokara area under Koradi police station. The police have registered a case against the couple, Umesh Kumar Shahu (68), a retired Navy officer, and his wife Manju Shahu (64), for subjecting the minor to severe abuse.
According to police reports, the Shahu couple had brought the girl to Nagpur a few months ago to assist with household chores, citing Manju’s poor health as the reason for hiring help. However, the teenager was subjected to frequent physical abuse and harsh treatment for any perceived mistakes. She was also confined to the house and denied interaction with outsiders. Neighbors, aware of her plight, were unable to intervene as she was kept locked up when the couple left the premises.
Gold Rate
Tuesday 21 Jan. 2025
The rescue operation was carried out by the Child Rights Protection Committee and Koradi police following a tip-off. The girl has since been placed in a juvenile home for her safety. A case has been registered against the Shahu couple under the Protection of Child Rights Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, and Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for child trafficking. This section mandates rigorous imprisonment of at least 10 years, extendable to life, along with a fine.
The First Information Report (FIR) revealed that the girl’s father, a truck driver from Dumritola in Jharkhand, had sold her to an unidentified middleman referred to as an ‘uncle.’ This individual later handed her over to the Shahu family. At their residence, the girl was forced to perform various tasks, including cleaning, dusting, and caring for Manju.
The operation was led by Meenakshi Dhadade, a Childline representative, and supervised by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Niketan Kadam. District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Mustaq Pathan ensured the minor was provided medical care at Mayo Hospital and secured under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Pathan highlighted the rising trend of minors being hired as domestic help in Nagpur, particularly in affluent areas like Kamptee, Koradi, Wardhaman Nagar, Civil Lines, Ramdaspeth, Dharampeth, and Rana Pratap Nagar. He urged citizens to report such cases, stating, “Anyone with specific information can call 1908. Our team will respond within 30 minutes to rescue the child and take necessary action.”
The incident underscores the pressing need to enforce stringent child labor laws and raise awareness about the exploitation of vulnerable minors in domestic settings.
