Accused of brutal assault, inflicting burns and dog bites

A 55-year-old woman who had shifted base from the United States to the Capital earlier this year has been arrested for allegedly torturing a domestic help in Mayur Vihar.

The torture included brutal assault, inflicting burns and even dog bites, the 24-year-old victim has alleged in her complaint.

A native of West Bengal, the woman was hired by a Mayur Vihar Phase I resident, Aarti Jain, a few months ago through a placement agency.

According to the complainant, it all started with Aarti making her starve or feeding her stale food. “She was assaulted whenever she made mistakes. She was also burnt by her employer with hot iron rods for demanding wages,” said a police officer.

The spell of torture lasted for four months and it was on Thursday that the victim managed to make a call to the police control room. She is learnt to have told the police that she was kept in confinement and was never allowed to go out. She said Aarti had a pet dog which would chase her down in case she made an attempt to flee. The victim also had dog bite marks on her body.

Based on the victim’s statement and the medical examination the police registered a case under Sections 323, 344 and 374 of the Indian Penal Code and against Aarti and she was subsequently arrested.

Following her husband’s death a few months ago, Aarti had shifted to India.