LONDON: A judge has ordered a British-Indian woman to pay £35,000 in damages to her former daughter-in-law for humiliating and harassing her.

Gina Satvir Singh (26) took Dalbir Kaur Bhakar ( 52) to court, accusing her of treating her like a "slave" and subjecting her to indignities that made her life a living hell.

Ms. Singh told the court that the campaign of harassment and abuse began soon after she married Hardeep Bhakar in November 2002 and moved to his parents' home in Ilford, east London. She was virtually imprisoned there, her mobile phone was confiscated and she was not allowed to watch television or listen to radio.

Ms. Singh, who helped with her family business and led a fairly independent life before marriage, accused her former mother-in-law of treating her like a domestic servant, forcing her to clean toilets with bare hands and mop the floor, besides subjecting her to other indignities while male members of the family were away at work. She was not allowed to visit the local temple and denied medical treatment for a hand infection.

This, according to her, went on for four months until she informed her parents, who took her back in March 2003. In November that year, she and her husband divorced.

"I look back and I can't understand how I survived those four months being treated like a slave,'' Ms Singh said.

The court said: "The course of conduct towards Gina was not merely negligent, or even reckless, but deliberate. She was utterly miserable and wretched during those four months, and was suffering from what was for her an incomprehensible personal attack.''

Mrs. Bhakar denied the allegations, and her solicitor said the family planned to appeal against the judgment.

Ms. Singh said she had no problem with her husband. "We were very happy together. These arranged marriages do work if there's no interference from in-laws, especially mothers-in-law. I had the support of my family and friends. Many other girls who are suffering the same situation don't have support from their family.''

The case came amid growing concern in the Home Office over allegations of domestic violence in Asian communities.

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