Meghalaya woman employed as babysitter in city assaulted

Shillong/Nagpur: A woman from Meghalaya's Khasi Hills employed as a babysitter and household help at an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer's residence in Nagpur, was brutally assaulted by her employer, following which police took swift action. As per latest reports, the woman was rescued by Nagpur police, but she declined to register a case.

As the video of injuries inflicted on her went viral in Shillong, Meghalaya Police dialled their Maharashtra counterparts. Talking to TOI, SP (East Khasi Hills) Vivek Syiem said, "The woman is still in Nagpur. We contacted Nagpur Police, and they are providing all support to the victim. She is right now being sheltered by police and was sent for a medical examination. They are awaiting a formal complaint from her."

The SP further said, "I told Nagpur Police we will provide all support, and if she wants to return to Meghalaya, we will help. DCP (Nagpur Zone 4) Rashmitha Rao assured all support. She may go to her husband, who's currently employed in Tamil Nadu. If she is willing to lodge an FIR, they will take up legal action, the Nagpur police assured."

The woman received medical care and was placed in protective accommodation with officials from both states launching an urgent review of protocols to strengthen safeguards for migrant domestic workers. The Khasi Students' Union, Delhi unit, has taken up the matter with the Special Police Unit for the North East Region.

Sources from local police stated the woman, who was employed at the residence of an IAF officer, was assaulted by his wife for mishandling a tissue paper roll, which left her employer furious. "The woman's medical examination records have been preserved, and all relevant entries were recorded at Beltarodi police station. There was no case registered against anyone as she was not willing to lodge one. Being an adult, we left the option to her to complete legal formalities of filing an FIR against anyone," said the official, adding the woman from Shillong was recruited as a babysitter by a private manpower supply agency.

Beltarodi police are now trying to arrange her reunion with her husband, who approached the state women's commission to lodge a complaint about her wife's humiliation at the hands of the IAF officer's family..