Minor beaten to death for setting parrot free

Rawalpindi police arrest employer of domestic worker

RAWALPINDI: A minor domestic worker died on Monday after she was violently beaten by her employers for setting free an expensive parrot from its cage. Police have arrested the couple who employed her.

The Rawat police Monday said that they received information that a minor in critical condition was receiving treatment at a hospital in a private housing scheme.

Rawat SHO Malik Kashif said that he along with a squad of officers rushed to the hospital.

There, the girl’s employer and guardian Hasan Siddique told the police that the victim, eight-year-old  Zehra Bibi, belonged to a destitute family of Muzaffargarh. Four months ago, the victim’s family had sent the girl to live and work at Siddique’s home as a domestic worker hoping that she will be raised in a good environment and will also receive an education.

However, after the girl let an expensive parrot out of its cage, Siddique, along with his wife beat the child.

Due to the physical abuse, Siddique told police that Zehra started bleeding and ultimately fell unconscious. At this, Siddique said that he rushed the minor to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the victim clandestinely fled the hospital premises.

Kashif said that when the victim was medically examined, wounds and bruises were found all over her body, and while bleeding from her private parts raised suspicions of sexual assault.

The police officials said that there were scars on the worker's body as well, signifying that she was frequently beaten in the past by her guardians.

Later, the police arrested Siddique and his wife and registered a case against the suspect on charges of murder and rape.

Kashif said initial investigation proved that the victim was physically abused while the police have collected samples for a DNA test. These samples will be sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) to affirm if she was sexually assaulted as well. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2020.