#JusticeForZohra: Protest After Noida Family Assaults House Help

26-year-old Zohra, who works as a domestic help, was allegedly beaten up by her employers and locked up in a room without food and water, all because they suspected the Bangladeshi immigrant of stealing from their house in Mahagun Moderne Society in Noida. This led to a massive protest by the villagers of a nearby slum outside the posh housing society on July 12 (Wednesday).

The mob, comprising hundreds of domestic workers, daily wage labourers and neighbours of the maid, entered the society carrying rods in their hands at 7 am, reported India Today.

On Tuesday night (July 11), Zohra's husband raised an alarm when she did not return home after work. He filed a complaint with Noida Police.

A Delhi-based journalist, Nilanjana Bhowmick, put up a Facebook post after meeting Zohra that explained her plight. She wrote, “I spoke to her a while back and she confirmed she was locked up in a room the whole day. Noida police, instead of taking action, is now firing at the protesters. There are at least five of them waiting outside, waiting for me to address this. I feel helpless and quite wretched because apart from posting on social media and speaking to the police, I don't even know from where I should start addressing this deep rot!!”

Another FB post with #JusticeForZohra by Bhowmick showed her speaking with AK Singh, SP, Noida, outside the society in the middle of the protest. She demanded swift action in the case.

ALSO READ: House Help For Over A Decade, This Tribal Girl Is Now Studying To Be A Chef

Zohra managed to file a police complaint against her employers with help from the DCW, who were alerted by residents of the society.

The DCW spokesperson told SheThePeople.TV, “Our team reached the police station after we were alerted by phone calls from the society and on social media. When we reached, Zohra was taken to the hospital by the police team. We have met Zohra and helped her file complaint against her employer and counselled her.”

“Although Noida does not come in our area of work, but the people who called the commission to help the house help could not have been turned down because of this reason. DCW helped the domestic help for humanity's sake,” said DCW chief Swati Malliwal in a release.

Picture credit- The Asian Age