Alleged Maltreatment: Maids beaten up ‘for cooking rice’

Police says that they would get the girls examined before making any arrests.

GUJRANWALA: Saddar police on Sunday took into protective custody two sisters, six and eight, who used to work as house maids in Wapda Town.

According to the police, the children had gone to the neighbours’ house to seek refuge. They told the neighbours that their employers had beaten them up for cooking rice for themselves.

They said they had been hungry because they were given food only once a day. Each of the girls said that she was paid Rs500 per month.

Police said that they would get the girls examined before making any arrests.

In another incident of alleged maltreatment by an employer, Civil Lines police arrested a hotel owner for beating up an employee.

The employee, Sajjad, told the police that his employer had beaten him up for asking about his pay and a request that he be granted a few days’ leave.

According to the FIR, the complainant’s brother and sister were also beaten up.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2013.