NHRC sought report on maid burning issue in Jharsuguda

NHRC has sought a report from the collector and SP of Jharsuguda district on the alleged burning incident of a child labour by her employer that occurred on 8^th September 2009. Police lodged a case against the employers basing on the complaint of the victim’s mother couple of days after the incident. NHRC came to picture following an application of a social activist of Jharsuguda who sought the intervention of the commission.

“I have received a notice from NHRC in connection with the case where the commission sought a report on the incident with in 4 weeks. I am sending the report along with the action taken by the police in the case”, collector (Jharsuguda) Dhananjay Dash told.

Sources said, one 14-year-old tribal girl Radhika Nag sustained burnt injuries while working in the house of Dinesh Khandelwal a businessman of Jharsuguda town on 8^th September 2009. Radhika was taken to Hospital. However police at Jharsuguda did not initiate any step to lodge cases against the employer and allegedly tried to hush up the issue. But police booked the employer Khandelwal and his wife under the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act and Juvenile Justice Act couple of days after the incident following the pressure of media report.

According to the complaint made by the victim’s mother, Radhika was beaten up mercilessly by her employer Dinesh Khandelwal and his wife accused her of stealing a saree. They asked her to return it. When she said she was innocent, they poured kerosene and set her on fire. The victim's mother, Suna Munda also alleged that Khandelwal did not let her daughter out till she paid the price of the saree.

On the other hand police received severe criticism for not taking immediate step to book the culprit. Though police were forced to arrest the culprit few days after the incident, accused got released on bail due to lenient attitude of the police.

“Police did not take any interest to book the culprit. But after being pressurized from various corners, Khandelwal was arrested but got court bail due to lenient attitude of the police. Till date police did not arrest his wife though she was equally involved in the crime”, Rakhyakar, eminent social activist and convener of Pragatisila Sramika Manch of Jharsuguda told.

According to him the victim Radhika has though survived from the incident, she becomes bed ridden after the incident. The poor family is unable to provide costly medical expenses for her treatment. “She should be properly compensated by the accused couple as they are quite responsible for her present condition”, Rakhyakar told