A girl working as a domestic help was rescued on Wednesday from the Kochi residence of a Kerala High Court advocate.
The 11-year-old girl, Radha, reportedly told the police that her father sold her to advocate Imtiaz Shafi, whose family members used to torture her.
The police have registered a case against the advocate and his wife, who are absconding.
“Burn scars are there all over her body. She was not allowed to step out of the house. After medical examination, we have sent her to Jana Seva Sisu Bhawan, an orphanage,” Assistant SP J. Jayanath told HT.
Radha was employed at the Kochi residence of Shafi for the past three years. The residence is in a VIP area. Shafi’s father, Mohamed Shafi, is a retired judge of the Kerala High Court in Kochi. As he doesn’t stay with his son, it is not known whether he is aware of the alleged atrocities.
The girl is illiterate and belongs to Tamil Nadu. The police came to know about her from the locals.
All family members got together at the advocate’s residence because Mohamed Shafi was supposed to fly to the US. When preparations for the departure were on, Radha sought refuge at the residence of a neighbour, who alerted the police, Jayanath said. “We are planning to contact her parents in Tamil Nadu. Efforts are on to arrest the accused.”
{{/usCountry}}All family members got together at the advocate’s residence because Mohamed Shafi was supposed to fly to the US. When preparations for the departure were on, Radha sought refuge at the residence of a neighbour, who alerted the police, Jayanath said. “We are planning to contact her parents in Tamil Nadu. Efforts are on to arrest the accused.”
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