Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Apr 17, 2012: Unwell maid abused for refusing to wash clothes

, TNN | Apr 17, 2012, 03.26AM IST
NEW DELHI: In another possible case of a domestic maid being allegedly battered by her employers, a 20-year-old woman was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital with injuries on Monday afternoon. The woman has alleged that she was beaten up by her employers on April 13 after she failed to wash clothes as she was unwell. The help was hired through a placement agency, police said. 

Police were recording the statement of the victim on Monday evening and completing the formalities towards registering a case. 

Dismissing the allegations, her employers told cops that they were being framed and that they had handed the help over to her relatives as she was unwell. "The employers have told us that they had taken in writing from the woman's brother-in-law, Prem Chand, that she was not well and he was taking her into his custody and that all dues had been cleared," said a senior police officer. Additional commissioner of police (west) V Renganathan said, "The matter is being investigated." 

Hospital sources said the condition of the woman, who is in a neck brace, was stable. Doctors are awaiting results of some reports. 

Her brother-in-law said the woman was hit with a wooden object - used to wash clothes - on April 13. "When she refused, the businessman's wife pushed her out of the bathroom and beat her up with a stick. It started to pain severely. Then her husband came and he also hit her. She fell and fainted," Chand said. 

"When she was severely injured, her employers took her to a private clinic and got her first aid. But her condition began to deteriorate due to lack of proper treatment. Next day, her employer called me up and asked me to take her to a hospital. They also made me sign a paper on which something was written in English. In order to take her away safely, I signed whatever they said and left," he said. 

The woman, police sources said, came to Delhi five years ago and stayed with her sister and brother-in-law in Kotla in south Delhi. The eldest of seven siblings, she was convinced by her relatives to work to support her family. Using his contacts, Chand, who also runs a placement agency, found her a job as a domestic help a few years ago. 

One and a half years ago, she was employed at the businessman's house. Sources said she had completed a year in January and her sister got her contract renewed. Chand said she was hired for Rs 3,000 and her salary was increased to Rs 3,500 in the new contract. 

Chand alleged that on April 14, she was refused admission at Safdarjung. "Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and AIIMS also refused her admission. Then I contacted police and she was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital on April 16."
Link: Unwell maid abused for refusing to wash clothes

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