# Teen Rescued from Forced Labor and Abuse in Delhi

A sixteen-year-old girl was rescued from domestic servitude involving severe physical abuse.

- **Source:** [NDTV – India](https://www.ndtv.com/india)
- **Published:** 2026-11-08
- **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics)
- **Original article:** <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-teen-house-help-forced-to-work-20-hours-a-day-burnt-with-rod-starved-12299313#publisher=newsstand>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/361b2791-0e46-438e-9a4e-b8eaf7a73320

## Rescue Operation in Delhi

A sixteen-year-old girl was rescued from a house in the Abul Fazal Enclave-II area of southeast Delhi. The operation was conducted on November 3 and 4 following a complaint by the Association for Voluntary Action. Authorities, including the Labour Department and Delhi Police, successfully extracted the victim from her employer's residence.

## Severe Daily Exploitation

The victim reported being forced to work from 6 am until 2 am daily. Her duties included sweeping, mopping, washing utensils, and general house cleaning. She was kept in this domestic servitude for nearly a year, during which time she was effectively isolated from her parents and denied basic personal freedoms.

## Systematic Physical Abuse

The employer, identified as Sadaf, allegedly subjected the teenager to brutal physical violence. The girl suffered burns from a hot iron on her back, hands, and hips, alongside wounds from a heated knife. Medical examinations revealed deep head wounds and numerous old scars resulting from this prolonged and systematic physical mistreatment.

## Deprivation and Control

Beyond physical violence, the girl was frequently deprived of food and water, once going three days without sustenance. She was often fed only leftovers and given tea. Her employer prevented her from seeing a doctor, instead providing medicines from a store to hide the injuries sustained during her forced labor.

## Isolation from Family

The employer strictly limited the girl's contact with her parents, allowing only two or three phone calls over the entire year. During these calls, the girl was forced to cover her face to hide visible injuries. She remained silent due to death threats issued by the employer if she disclosed the abuse.

## Legal Action Initiated

The Kalkaji sub-divisional magistrate ordered the Shaheen Bagh Police Station to register a formal case. Charges are being filed under the Child and Adolescent Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act of 1986 and the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015. The girl provided her statement before a magistrate and the Child Welfare Committee.

## Medical and Future Care

Following her rescue, the Child Welfare Committee directed that the girl be admitted to AIIMS for professional medical treatment. Despite the trauma endured, the teenager expressed a desire to resume her education. She stated her ambition to become a teacher, signaling a hope for recovery and a return to normal life.

## Context of Labor Exploitation

The victim was placed in the household by a third party and received only 18,000 rupees for nearly a year of labor. This case highlights the persistent issue of illegal domestic child labor in urban centers. Authorities are now investigating the role of the placement agent involved in this exploitative arrangement.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-teen-house-help-forced-to-work-20-hours-a-day-burnt-with-rod-starved-12299313#publisher=newsstand — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
