Januka Baral, 11, of Katari, Udayapur, who had been working as a domestic help at the house of Dr Deependra Mahatto, an orthopedic, said that she had reached the police station thrice in the last one-and half months, urging to be rescued as she suffered excessive torture at the hands of Mahatto family.[break]
"I even requested them to put me on a bus to my village if they could not rescue me. But on all occasion they returned me to the same house where I had been suffering," she complained. She said that she sought police help as she had heard that they help people in trouble.
The Boudha police finally rescued Baral last Tuesday after neighbors filed a written appeal for her rescue. With the help of child rights organizations, Baral lodged a case on Wednesday at Labor office against Dr Mahatto.
Baral had been toiling at Mahatto´s house for the last two years. Apart from doing all the household chores like washing, cooking, cleaning, she also looked after Mahatto´s four-year-old son. She endured physical and verbal abuses in return.
She accused that Dr Mahatto used to beat her whenever he got annoyed with his wife. She was also punished when his four-year-old son made troubles or noises. "His wife Khusbu also used to threaten me to be beware of her as she was a daughter of Sardar and would not tolerate any mistake," she said.
The girl also accused that Mahatto´s wife on one occasion poured hot pulses on her head and struck her by spatula. She had to sleep hungry when Dr Mahatto and his wife went out to attend parties.
"I was not allowed to cook when they were not at home," she said. She complained that Dr Mahatto had promised to send her to school before bringing her to the house but never fulfilled his promise.
Dr Mahatto could not be reached for comment.
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