Why Is BJP's Seema Patra In News? All About The Cruelty Allegations Against Her

Seema Patra, a BJP politician in Jharkhand, was reportedly suspended today following accusations that she had imprisoned and cruelly abused a domestic helper. Patra was a part of the women's wing of the BJP's national working committee. 

Deepak Prakash, the leader of the Jharkhand BJP, put Patra under arrest after video went viral. The footage depicts  Patra's domestic staff accusing her of torture. The woman, who has been identified as Sunita is on a hospital bed in the video. She is unable to sit up by herself, and several of her teeth are missing. According to local media accounts, the injury marks on her body indicate that she was assaulted repeatedly.

BJP Suspends Seema Patra

Strong emotions have been sparked by the images, with many demanding Patra's immediate arrests. Sunita, who is now 29 and from Gumla, Jharkhand, worked for the Patras about ten years ago. Sunita reportedly also travelled with their daughter Vatsala to Delhi for job purposes. Vatsala and Sunita returned to Ranchi around four years ago.

The woman claims that Patra tortured her viciously for the following six years. Sunita claims in the tapes that she allegedly was beaten with a hot Tawa and rods and had her teeth broken out while speaking through excruciating agony. She was allegedly also forced to lick the floor with pee.

Sunita further alleges in the video that she was subjected to torture as a punishment, although she was unable to identify her transgressions. The woman claims that Ayushman, Patra's son helped her to rescue. "It is only because of him that I am alive," she claims.

According to reports, the woman's sister and brother-in-law declined to take her in. In one of the recordings, Sunita expresses to continue her studies once she feels better.

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It is speculated that Ayushman told a friend about Sunita's ordeal and requested his assistance. His friend filed a police report, Sunita was rescued. She is currently receiving care at RIMS in Ranchi.

Twitter has expressed its anger over the incident with #ArrestSeemaPatra trending all across the platform. Several users have found the incident disturbing. "Both Congress and BJP netas are busy trying to save or topple Jharkhand govt. while no action has been taken against vile BJP Member Seema Patra so far!" tweeted one user.

Who is Seema Patra?

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Seema Patra is the member of the national working committee of the Party’s Mahila Morcha. She was the Jharkhand convenor of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign. Her spouse Maheshwari Patra is a retired Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer. They are the residents of the upscale Ashok Nagar locality of Ranchi.

Who is survivor Sunita Khakha?

Sunita hails from the tribal community, Sunita is the native of village Gumla and came to Ranchi and about 8 years ago. She was reportedly brought to work as a domestic worker in the house of Seema Patra and IAS Maheshwari Patra. Later reportedly worked in the house of the couple’s daughter, Vatsala Patra.