Lakhi comes from Karimganj in Assam, near the Indo-Bangla border, and was employed by Debojyoti and Parinita Das — both senior executives in the same Business Process Outsourcing firm — this April, the police said.

Sector 56 police station SHO Hawa Singh confirmed: “The couple has been arrested for cruelty meted out to the girl.”

According to police, the couple beat up the girl after she was unable to complete a household chore. The couple stays in Kendriya Vihar, Sector 56.

The incident reportedly came to light on Friday night, when a neighbour lodged a complaint with NCW about the couple’s “cruelty” towards their household help. Subsequently, a team of activists from NCW and the NGO Shakti Vahini reached their house early on Saturday and rescued the girl.

Parinita Das initially denied that they had hit Lakhi — “they are old wounds” — but later admitted she had beaten her up. The victim said the family would manhandle her regularly at the smallest of mistakes. “They would twist my little finger, bang my head against the wall, and slap me if I did anything that displeased them,” Lakhi alleged.

DCP (East) Jagdish Nagar, meanwhile, did not confirm whether Lakhi is a juvenile. He said: “It is uncertain that the rescued girl is a juvenile (below 14 years for child labour, and 18 years for other cases). We are waiting for the medical report and subsequently decide whether to include charges under the Juvenile Protection Act.” The victim has been sent to Salam Balak Trust for the time being.

The NCW and NGO activists said help from the police and the District Commissioner’s (DC) office came long after they had made a complaint. Manju Hebrom, an NCW member, said, “We called the DCP (East) to help us by sending a police team this morning but he refused, and cited lack of orders from the DC office.