GUWAHATI: Major Shailendra Yadav, and his wife, Kimmy Ralson who were arrested by the police allegedly torturing their minor domestic help, were remanded to 14-day judicial custody on Tuesday.
Major Yadav had married Ralson, a Haflong native, while he was posted in Dima Hasao district.
After he was transferred from Haflong to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, Ralson brought a minor girl from the Sankijang area to assist her as domestic help.
But, allegations soon surfaced of Ralson severely abusing the minor girl, including physical abuse and pouring hot water on her.
“Information was received by Dima Hasao Police that one minor girl of Haflong, who was taken to Palampur, Himachal Pradesh as domestic help was tortured brutally by the couple who took her. Police acted swiftly and registered a case vide Haflong PS case No 74/2023 under section 326/374/354/506/370/34 of IPC read with section 12 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and 3 of the SC & ST (POA), Act, 1989 and stated investigation into it,” Dima Hasao superintendent of police Mayank Kumar said.
“During the investigation, prima facie evidence was found against the couple, one Indian Army Major and his wife, and they were arrested in connection with the case and brought to Haflong. They have been forwarded to judicial custody,” the SP said.
The police said the girl underwent extreme torture before being recently handed over to her family in Dima Hasao.
“The victim has been working with the family for the last two years, and during this period, she was subjected to severe physical abuse,” Kumar said.
“She became ill, and then Ralson handed her to the family,” he said.
The 17-year-old girl and her family were threatened not to register a case with the police. However,
someone posted the details of the horrific condition of the minor on social media.
“We took cognizance and called the couple here. They were subsequently arrested for torturing the minor girl,” Kumar further said.
A group of local women protested outside the court of the chief judicial magistrate in Haflong on Tuesday, demanding an exemplary punishment for the accused couple.
“Necessary assistance is being provided to the victim including medical treatment. Further investigation is on,” the SP added.
The condition of the minor girl who was admitted in Haflong Civil Hospital is still serious. “She has received grievous injuries in her tongue as the army couple tried to cut her tongue. They poured hot milk on her body. She has also received injuries in her ear, nose, leg and even in the private part,” sources here said.
