Minor Girl Rescued After Torture By Employer In Odisha Capital

Bhubaneswar: A 13-year-old girl, allegedly subjected to physical torture at a house where she worked as a domestic help in Bhubaneswar, was rescued on Monday.

According to sources, the minor girl was engaged as a domestic help at the house of a couple, Rashmi Ranjan Jena and Pratima Jena, at Satya Enclave in  Mancheswar area of the state capital.

The girl, with burn marks on her arm, was rescued in joint operation carried out by the Childline, labour officer and police.

As per the girl’s statement, she was studying in Class VI at her village school in Kendrapara district when she was trafficked by one Ananta Jena, father of Pratima Jena, in February 2022.

Thereafter, she was engaged as a domestic help at Pratima Jena’s house eight months ago, according to a Childline official.

The minor girl accused her employer of torturing her physically for negligence in her work. The burn marks on her body indicated that she might have been branded with some hot iron object.

Following her rescue, the victim was produced before the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) by the Childline.

Alabour case will be lodged by the labour officer, while Childline will file a criminal case at the Mancheswar police station, sources said.