An alarming case of alleged child abuse has surfaced in Guwahati, where a 13-year-old girl was rescued after being discovered locked inside the storage compartment of a divan bed at a private residence. A video of the rescue operation, which shows officials lifting the bed and pulling out the visibly weak and frightened child, has since circulated widely on social media, sparking public outrage and calls for strict action.
The rescue operation was conducted on Sunday evening by the District Labour Task Force, with a magistrate present, following repeated complaints from neighbours who suspected that a minor was being illegally employed as domestic help at the house. Acting on these inputs, officials carried out an inspection of the premises.
According to authorities, the girl had reportedly been working at the residence for nearly six years, raising serious concerns about child labour and long-term exploitation. The homeowner, identified as Arina Laskar Khatun, has been accused of subjecting the child to repeated physical abuse during this period.
Officials said that after learning that an inspection by the task force was imminent, the accused allegedly hid the girl inside the divan’s storage box for approximately 25 minutes. When the inspection team arrived, the occupants of the house initially denied that the child was present, claiming that her father had taken her away several days earlier.
“The statements given by the family members were contradictory and immediately raised suspicion,” a task force official said. “We noticed unusual behaviour and insisted on conducting a thorough search of the house. The occupants tried to restrict our movement, saying a child was sleeping and that we should not enter certain rooms.”
Despite resistance, officials persisted and eventually searched the room in question. During the search, they discovered the minor hidden inside the divan. She was found in a frail and exhausted condition and was first given water after being brought out. Once she regained some strength, the girl broke down and began crying.
In her preliminary statement to officials, the child said she had been working in the house for several years and was frequently subjected to physical abuse. Following this, she was formally rescued and taken away from the premises for care and protection.
Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident, and officials said further legal action would be taken against those responsible based on the outcome of the probe.
