Assam: Employers burn 12-year-old domestic help to death

Two people in Assam’s Nagaon district have been taken into police custody for allegedly setting ablaze their 12-year-old domestic help.

“We got initial information from the [employers]...that she [domestic help] had died by suicide. ...after initial investigation, our team found the claim to be suspicious,” said police superintendent Gaurav Abhijit Dilip.

Furthermore he added that,“It appears she had been burnt. We also came to know the girl who was just 12 was employed as domestic help. We have arrested two persons...Prakash Borthakur and his son, Nayanmoni Borthakur. Further investigations are underway.”

According to the police, the girl’s dead body has been sent for autopsy. alleged photos of the victim’s body passed around on social media show it in a kneeling position with the head on the ground. A plastic jar and a matchbox can also be seen in the images.

The victim had been working as domestic help for the past five years in violation of the law that bans employing children under 14 years of age. Her employers allegedly poured kerosene after she requested them to allow her to go home.

Assam police chief Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, through a tweet stated that: “As per her employer, the girl committed suicide. However, after initial inspection, it is suspected that she was murdered and then burnt. She was also underage to be working as a domestic help. Therefore, two accused were taken to custody immediately. Investigation is underway.”

Also Read: Mumbai: Minor girl gangraped by 17-year-old boy, three others