A 10-year-old girl is battling for her life on a ventilator at a private hospital in Noida, in a case that has will trigger shockwaves through the region. According to a CRPF official, a CRPF constable,
Tariq Anwar, and his wife, Rimpa Khatoon, are facing serious allegations that the girl child was illegally kept as domestic labour and subjected to brutal physical abuse over a prolonged period.
Sources also said that CRPF has suspended the officer and both have been arrested by the police.
The girl who is a relative of the constable’s wife, was staying with the couple at a CRPF camp in Greater Noida without following the due procedures and without informing the department, as per the complaint.
An FIR has been registered at Police Station Ecotech III, Gautam Budh Nagar, under Section 110 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). However, serious concerns are being raised over the absence of more stringent legal provisions despite the gravity of the allegations.
Allegations of Prolonged Assault and Starvation
Officials aware of the developments said the child was allegedly kept as illegal domestic help and was assaulted and starved for an extended period. A CRPF official said the girl’s condition indicates extreme neglect and violence.
Two different complaints were filed by two CRPF official still case was registered on 18th January, CRPF official told News18.
Haemoglobin dropped to 1.9
According to the complaint, there is clear indication of severe physical cruelty, including, haemoglobin level reported to be as low as 1.9, which should be 12-15 gm/dL.
According to the medical report, the girl had multiple injuries over the body – on her neck, head, hands and legs, multiple scars on face, neck and body (bruising/black eye), whole-body swelling, swelling in both feet. She was unconscious, in a drowsy state, when brought to Emergency, the medical report, accessed by News18, says.
Delay in registering FIR
According to a complaint accessed by News18, filed by Assistant Commandant of CRPF, the officer has raised a grave concern over the delay of registering the FIR.
“It is a matter of grave concern that no FIR has been registered till date, despite the availability of medical evidence and mandatory police intimation. Further, the suspected place of exploitation, i.e., the above-mentioned CRPF residential quarter, is reportedly being vacated without sealing or forensic preservation, raising serious apprehension of destruction or tampering of material evidence,” the complaint filed after 48 hours of incident getting reported says.
It has been learnt that hospital is said to have formally informed the police on January 15, but the case was registered three days later, prompting questions about the delay.
Sources said the FIR was registered based on a complaint made by a CRPF officer on a second complaint given by inspector of CRPF, Subedar Major, the FIR says.
It further alleges that the constable did not take the girl to the camp hospital for initial treatment.
Child Shifted Between Hospitals
After being taken to Sarvodaya Hospital, the child was reportedly discharged and later re-admitted to Max Hospital, Sector 128, where she remains critical and on ventilator support.
The complaint also flags concerns that the suspected place where the child was allegedly exploited was being vacated without being sealed, raising fears of possible tampering or destruction of evidence.
Calls for Stricter Action
The complaint given by Assistant Commandant highlights that the allegations may attract provisions under multiple child protection and anti-trafficking laws, including, Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, other relevant sections related to trafficking and exploitation of minors.
However, the FIR has currently been registered only under Section 110 of BNS.
