Girl burnt with hot rod, kept hungry, rescued from Shaheen Bagh

In Southeast Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, a 16-year-old girl was rescued from a house where she was allegedly forced to work long hours, denied food, and subjected to burns with a hot iron. Police announced the rescue on November 4, following a complaint by child rights organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan. The girl, employed as a domestic help at a residence in Abul Fazal Enclave-II, was allegedly subjected to grueling labor from 6 am until 2 am each day, performing household chores.

She stated that her employer, Sadaf, often served her tea around 11 am and leftover food, depriving her of proper nourishment. The girl also alleged that her employer repeatedly burned her with a hot iron, causing injuries to her back, hands, and hips, as well as deep wounds on her head from a heated knife. The NGO conducting the rescue found multiple injuries and old scars on the girl's body, including burn marks and deep wounds.

She also claimed that she was once denied food and water for three days and beaten for minor mistakes. The girl was prevented from meeting her parents, who could only communicate with her over the phone a few times in nearly a year, often with her face covered to hide her injuries. After recording her statement before a magistrate, she was produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which ordered her admission to AIIMS for medical treatment. Sadaf has since been arrested and placed in judicial custody.