The Hindu : Cop accused of torturing 12-year-old child

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Cop accused of torturing 12-year-old child

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 24. In a gruesome case of child abuse, a Delhi Police head constable is alleged to have tortured her 12-year-old domestic help in her official accommodation at Tilak Marg in New Delhi this past week to force her into establishing a physical relationship with her acquaintances. While the accused has not been arrested yet, the victim is in the custody of Nirmal Chhaya.

The incident came to light on February 19 when a non-government organisation, Salam Balak Trust, was informed that a domestic help was being tortured by her employer, Head Constable Rekha Kaul, a resident of Tilak Marg Police Colony. The victim, who had sustained at least 22 burn injuries all over her body, was rescued by a citizen and taken to Salam Balak Trust the next day.

The victim disclosed that Rekha had brought her to the Capital around seven years ago to work as a domestic help. She allegedly used to beat her up off and on. Recently, Rekha allegedly forced her into a physical relationship with her acquaintances. The victim refused, upon which Rekha allegedly beat her up with an iron rod, put chilly powder into her eyes and burnt her body parts. She then locked her up inside a room. It is alleged that Rekha had been trying to oblige a doctor with a medical college who visited her regularly.

Having heard her plight, the NGO lodged a complaint with the New Delhi police demanding action against the head constable, following which the victim was produced before a Juvenile Justice Board and sent to the custody of Nirmal Chhaya. Acting on her statement, the police have registered a case under the Juvenile Justice Act, but they have not arrested Rekha so far. The local police claimed that she is absconding, but it is learnt that Rekha, who is posted with the Communications unit at Police Headquarters, has been going to her office all this while.

Sources said the local police are reluctant to take action against the accused. Coming to know that she had been visiting the Headquarters, the local police planned to arrest her there, but they were asked to not to conduct any such operation in the Headquarters premises. The Tilak Marg police quarter, which is normally allotted to police officers starting from the rank of inspector, was allotted to Rekha in 2001 superseding those in the waiting list, allegedly owing to the influence of police officers known to her.

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