‘Imprisoned’ teenage help escapes from employer’s clutch

Express news service Posted: Apr 17, 2008 at 0157 hrs
Kolkata, April 16 A 16-year-old girl who worked as a domestic help has alleged that she was tortured by her employer. She said that she was locked in a room for four days and was not given any food.

Manasi Das worked at the house of Moloy Dewanji, a director of a renowned NGO, in Viveknagar under Kasba police station.

On Wednesday, while she tried to escape, Dewanji and his daughter Ananya Bhattacharya allegedly attacked her with a sharp-edged weapon.

An injured Das, however, managed to escape and was rescued by locals.

“We have received a complaint from the girl and have initiated an investigation. The girl was allegedly tortured by the house owner and his daughter,” said Pravin Kumar, Superintendent of Police of South 24 Parganas district.

According to police, the victim is a resident of West Midnapore.

Six months ago she had come to Kolkata along with her mother Parul Das for work, police added. She was employed by the Dewanji family.

In her complaint, Das said that she was tortured and made to work over time. She was also denied food. But when she protested, she was locked inside a room for four days.

The police are now interrogating Dewanji and her daughter Ananya.