MAPUSA
A domestic worker has accused her employer and three unidentified men of assaulting, molesting and threatening her in Mapusa, and alleged that police refused to register an FIR despite her complaint, medical examination and CCTV cameras at the scene.
Sunita Jagiram Deval, in a complaint submitted to the Superintendent of Police (North) on Tuesday, alleged that police told her there was “nothing” in the matter and asked her not to “stretch” the issue. She has sought registration of an FIR and preservation of CCTV footage and other electronic evidence.
Deval said she was hired through a maid service agency in Belagavi and began working for the employer on September 11.
According to her complaint, on September 13 around 11 pm, the employer returned home allegedly intoxicated and assaulted her with a heeled sandal and mobile charger cable. She claimed her mobile phone was broken, her gold nose pin and earring were taken, and she was prevented from leaving.
Three men were allegedly called to the residence. Deval claimed she escaped through the back door, climbed over a compound wall and sought help at a neighbouring property belonging to the employer’s mother-in-law.
She alleged that the four persons followed and stopped her there. When the mother-in-law urged them to call police, the employer allegedly threatened to lock Deval inside the house and kill her.
Deval further alleged that she was dragged onto the road and assaulted with kicks and punches, while the employer allegedly sat on her back to restrain her. One of the men allegedly touched her inappropriately. She claimed the incident was recorded on a mobile phone and that she was threatened with death if she approached police.
Deval eventually ran into another house, whose occupants called 112. Police arrived and took her to the residence where the alleged incident occurred.
She alleged that police could not inspect the premises as the employer did not open the gate and allegedly unleashed her dog. At Mapusa Police Station, Deval claimed she was told there was nothing in the matter and was asked to collect her belongings and leave.
She further alleged that an officer refused to register an FIR and instead registered a non-cognisable complaint. She also alleged that Rs 10,000, her gold nose pin and earring were missing when some belongings were returned. She has urged the SP to register an FIR under relevant provisions of the BNS and investigate the matter.
Deval has urged the SP to register an FIR under relevant provisions of the BNS and investigate the matter.
