Odisha couple arrested for physically torturing minor maid

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 25:

A couple in Odisha capital was arrested for physically torturing a minor girl and making her do housework for last nine month on Sunday.

Sahid Nagar Police yesterday arrested Abinash Patra, a marine engineer and his wife JS Niharika on charges of torturing the girl. They had brought her from Bagdafa village in Mayurbhanj district promising her good education.

The  residents of  Laxmi Vihar area in the city instead engaged her in housework after a few days of bringing her here.

The couple were arrested after a complaint was lodged by the parents of the minor girl at the Sarat police station in Mayurbhanj district.

They alleged that though the couple had taken the girl to Bhubaneswar for the education, they engaged her in the domestic chores and branded her with hot iron if she showed any reluctance.

Besides, the couple had not allowed the minor girl to contact her family members for the last eight months.

Patra and his wife were later produced in a judicial court which ordered judicial custody of the couple.