Hyderabad: A software engineer and his wife allegedly confined an eight-year- old girl in their house at Motinagar and made her a child labourer.
The couple also allegedly branded her with hot iron for not obeying them. Child rights activists rescued the girl on Wednesday. The girl was brought from her house in Prakasam district with her parents’ consent. Police have booked a case against the couple M. Narayana, an MNC employee and his wife Padma.
Child Rights activists alleged that Narayana and Padma bought the girl by paying her parents some money. “Four months ago, they purchased the girl by paying Rs 10,000 to her parents. Since then the girl has been working as a domestic help. She was forced to do all the chores and hard work in the house,” said a child rights activists.
Based on a tip off childline officials and child rights activists came to the house of Narayana. When they found the girl, Padma tried to evade the police case by lying that she was her relative.
“The couple claimed that the girl was from next door. Later she said she was cousin’s daugter. But the victim revealed the truth,” said an official.
After the rescue, Labour department officials also reached the spot and booked a case against the techie and his wife.
Police got involved in the operation. “We have rescued the girl and sent her to a rescue home. An investigation has been initiated against the suspects for assaulting the girl,” said SR Nagar Inspector Md Wahiduddin.
The victim had sustained injuries on her thighs and back, officials said.
