An 18-year-old Dalit girl, employed as a domestic help for DMK MLA Karunanidhi's son, Anto Mathivanan, alleges severe physical and emotional abuse.She shares harrowing details of exploitative work conditions that started when she joined in April last year.
In a heart-wrenching revelation to Vikatan, an 18-year-old Dalit girl from a village near Ulundurpet details the agonizing exploitation she endured while working as a domestic help at the house of Anto Mathivanan, son of DMK MLA Karunanidhi, in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. The exploitation commenced when she joined in April last year.
During the interview with Vikatan, the victim discloses the initial days of exploitation, including attempts to cut ties with her family and the forcible confiscation of her phone. Faced with threats and coercion, she continued working out of sheer fear, exposing the manipulation and suppression of her voice.
The young woman narrates her ordeal of being coerced into excessive cooking, enduring verbal abuse, and facing physical assaults. She vividly describes instances of burns, beatings, and even being stripped naked and severely beaten. Her distressing account reveals the extent of the physical and emotional trauma she suffered daily.
In her detailed complaint to the Tamil Nadu DGP, the girl exposes the calculated manipulation surrounding promises of education. The family allegedly took her mark sheets and certificates on the pretext of furthering her education, illustrating the lengths to which they went to control and deceive her.
Activist Evidence Kathir, leading the legal process for the victim's family, discloses further atrocities, including threats, isolation during festivals like Diwali, and being locked alone in the house. The family's alleged actions showcase a pattern of systematic abuse and control.
The victim's plea to celebrate Pongal in her hometown is revealed through her mother's attempts to contact Marilena. The family's response, "You go, and we will bring her," unravels the manipulative tactics employed. Earlier threats of throwing the victim's family inside if they spoke out further underscore the severity of the intimidation.
Following the traumatic incidents, the victim was admitted to Ulundurpet Government Hospital on the night of the 15th. The details of her suffering were documented as accidental injuries, prompting a local police investigation on the 16th. The Thiruvanmiyur all-women police recorded her statement on the night of the 17th. Calls for strict action against the MLA's son and daughter-in-law escalate.
This in-depth narrative, comprising the victim's firsthand account, legal perspectives from Evidence Kathir, and the progression of events, sheds light on the horrifying reality faced by the Dalit girl. It underscores the urgent need for justice, relief, and protection in the face of unimaginable cruelty and injustice.
We spoke to Adyar Deputy Commissioner Pon Karthik, who is handling the investigation. He stated, 'We have recorded the victim's statement and are currently conducting an investigation. Appropriate action will be taken once the inquiry is completed.'
Efforts to obtain an explanation from Karunanidhi's family were unsuccessful as no one responded. If they choose to respond, we are prepared to publish their statement after careful consideration