Gurgaon help suicide: Protesters outside police chief’s office demand arrest of couple

The protesters also demanded a thorough probe into the death of Ranjita Brahma, who had allegedly jumped to her death on Friday night from the couple’s apartment on the 11th floor.

Over 100 domestic workers, activists and people from the northeast, particularly Assam, on Tuesday held a protest outside the Gurgaon police commissioner’s office for more than five hours demanding the arrest of a couple in connection with the alleged suicide of an 18-year-old Assamese girl in DLF’s Carlton estate condominium complex.

A large number of domestic workers from all communities and regions as well as activists from Gharelu Kamgar Union (GKU), North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) and All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) participated in the protest. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

The protesters also demanded a thorough probe into the death of Ranjita Brahma, who had allegedly jumped to her death on Friday night from the couple’s apartment on the 11th floor.

Brahma, a resident of Assam, had joined as a domestic help in the apartment of Rohit and Sonal Mehta on Wednesday but allegedly committed suicide on Friday night.

The police on Saturday registered a case against the couple at the Sushant Lok police station under Section 306 of the IPC for abetment of suicide.

A large number of domestic workers from all communities and regions as well as activists from Gharelu Kamgar Union (GKU), North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) and All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) participated in the protest.

On Sunday, the protesters held a demonstration at the Sushant Lok police station and outside the Carlton Estate demanding the arrest of the couple.

Protesters from the Bodo community shouted slogans and demanded justice for the girl at Gurgaon police commissioner’s office on Tuesday. They said the girl wanted to return home but was not allowed to go by the Mehtas.

“We want action against the couple and the police should probe if her death was a suicide or murder. There is need a to arrest the couple and seal the apartment so that no tampering of evidence takes place. The girl had a weak economic background and she had come here to support his brother’s education,” said Maya John, convener, Centre for Struggling Women (CSW).

Christina, a Bodo girl, a friend Ranjita’s said she had gone to the apartment complex on Friday night after getting a frantic call from Ranjita, who wanted to leave the apartment.

“She was not allowed to leave and guard did not allow us entry. The next day a call came to us that Ranjita was dead”, she said. The protesters further alleged that the accused were influential and trying to mislead the police investigation.

Simarpreet Singh, joint commissioner of police, Gurgaon, who met the protesters, said Gurgaon police has formed a special investigation team, led by ACP Harender Kumar, to probe the matter.

A team of protesters are in talks with Kumar to press their demands regarding the investigation and arrest of accused.