Hyderabad, September 17: She was 11 when her father died of an illness. Two years later, her mother deserted her. With no option left, she and her younger sister began selling eatables at Warangal railway station to survive.
A year later, the sisters were introduced to a man who promised them a decent living. But little did they realise that this elderly man with a grown-up son would abuse them in such fashion.
“Mehboob (the owner of Yakub Samosa Company in Warangal) used to hit me with whatever he could find. Every day, he would force me to marry him and when I refused, he would abuse me in filthy language,” the girl (name withheld) told.
Tears rolling down, she said that even when she went to the washroom, he would depute someone to ensure that she did not escape. “He never treated me like a human being,” she recalled.
The girl’s misery began four years ago when her father Ramu died due to some illness. Two years after his death, Ramu’s wife Vasantha deserted her two daughters which forced them to take up petty jobs.
The victim, before fleeing to Hyderabad, had been residing inside the samosa-making unit. She was taken into the unit by Mehboob who promised her food, shelter and a decent pay for making samosas.
But the victim was never paid.
“Mehboob had been harassing me sexually. I was scared as Mehboob had threatened me with dire consequences if I moved out of his company. When I refused to heed to his demands, he would thrash me,” she said.
Labour Department officials told that the victim and her sister’s names were also changed by Mehboob. “The victim was given a new name, Farah and her sister who works with Mehboob’s son Yakub was named Amreen,” Joint Labour Commissioner B Ajay said.
The victim has been shifted to M V Foundation and she wishes to start a new life. “I have studied up to Class V and want to continue my studies,” she said.
Girl from Warangal, who was allegedly illegally confined and sexually abused by her employer, was rescued by an auto driver in the city and taken to Kushaiguda. Locals then handed her over to officials of the Labour Department on Tuesday.
According to officials, the girl was spotted near the Secunderabad railway station about a week back. Some youngsters were trying to misbehave with her. An auto driver from Kushaiguda, Nageswara Rao, intervened and asked her where she’d come from.
The victim initially requested him to provide a job and then narrated her tale. Rao brought the girl to Gabbilalapet and put her up at a local’s house. On Tuesday, the issue was brought to the notice of the Labour Department.
He said that a complaint would be lodged against Mehboob and others who are involved in the crime.
The girl was neither paid nor properly looked after. A week back, she fled from the company, after one of the workers did not close the door properly. She went to Warangal station, took a train and came to Secunderabad.
The victim also said that two more girls were being confined by her employer.
-Agencies