8 Sep 2013Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)Sanjeev Bhalla sanjeev.bhalla@hindustantimes Minor help accuses BJP Mahila Morcha chief of physical torture Zoom Bookmark Share Print Translate JALANDHAR: A 12-year-old girl, who claimed to be working as a domestic help at the house of BJP Mahila Morcha president Renu Thapar in Ludhiana, has accused her employer of physically torturing her for over two years. In her statement before the court of Jaspreet Kaur, here, the girl revealed that she escaped from Thapar’s house on Friday evening to reach Jalandhar, where her parents lived. “I had been working as domestic help at Thapar’s house for past over two years at a monthly salary of Rs 600. Renu Thapar, her husband and son used to beat me up frequently for minor mistakes on my behalf. Twice I fled from the house, but my father forcibly handed over me back to Thapar against my wishes,” she submitted. “Once I approached the police at Ladowal to seek help, but the cops handed me over to influential Thapar,” she alleged. The court sent the girl to Nari Niketan after she refused to go with her parents. SHOPKEEPER FOUND THE GIRL CRYING The issue came to light, after a shopkeeper of Katehra Mohalla found the girl crying here on Friday evening and he approached area councillor Sushil Rinku for help. “My family consoled her and offered food. Meanwhile, Thapar reached my place on being contacted over phone. Thapar tried to console the girl but the latter refused to accompany her. Then the matter was reported to the police. Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Malkit Singh visited us and took the girl along to the police station at 11.30pm. Her statement was recorded and the girl was handed over to us at 2am,” said Rinku. “The police were unduly harassing the girl. The FIR should have been immediately registered against the employer, but the police failed to do so,” Major Singh, a Congress leader, alleged. THAPAR FEIGNS IGNORANCE Thapar feigned ignorance about the issue and denied having known to the girl. She also denied having visited Rinku’s house for a compromise on Friday night. On why the girl was accusing her of torture, she evaded a direct reply and disconnected the call. Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma said that he was not aware of the controversy. “This is a serious matter. I will inquire into the matter and get back to you,” he said.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 18:15:36 +0000
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