In a shocking incident, two people from a tribal community in Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district were stripped naked and confined by their employer. Though the incident took place on Friday, the police learned of it on Sunday, after the mother of one of the victims approached the officials.
According to reports, the victims, Ramana* and Lakshmi*, from the Lambada community, were employed by the accused, Khurshid, to look after the sheep and do odd jobs at his farmhouse in Nakkalabanda. Police said that as per the bond agreement, Khurshid employed and paid them Rs 30,000, six months ago. The agreement also allegedly showed that they have to work every day. However, the two took leave from work for a few days after they fell ill.
When Khurshid came to know that Lakshmi (30) was availing treatment at a local hospital, he went there and forcefully took her to the farmhouse, stripped her naked and locked her up. Learning about this, the other victim, Ramana (23), came to the farmhouse, where, he too received the same treatment.
According to police, the victims said that Khurshid, besides stripping them of their dignity and humiliating them with casteist slurs, also physically assaulted them with sticks.
The victims were confined in the room for two days, without food. When her son did not return home, Ramana’s mother informed the police.
The Jadcherla police went to the farmhouse and rescued him. The police, however, initially did not know Lakshmi was also confined in the farmhouse. “We didn’t know that a woman was also kept in captivity. After rescuing Ramana, he came to the station to give a statement. He then told us that there was another victim in the farmhouse. We rushed back to rescue her too,” said Jadcherla CI G Balaraju.
“They were traumatised when we rescued them. We sent them for medical examination,” he added.
Based on Ramana’s complaint, the police have filed a case against Khurshid, under several sections, including SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
“Khurshid has been booked under IPC 342 (wrongful confinement, IPC 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and SC and ST Atrocities Act. The accused is absconding, but we will nab him soon.”
*Names changed