Locked Away in Silence: 13-Year-Old Rescued from Bed Box in Guwahati's Panjabari

Guwahati: The shocking child abuse case reported from Panjabari in Guwahati has revealed further disturbing details, with officials confirming that the rescued minor girl was deliberately hidden to evade a joint rescue operation.

The 13-year-old girl was rescued on Sunday following a joint operation by the District Labour Task Force, Assam Police, Child Helpline, and the Labour Department, conducted in the presence of a magistrate. The operation took place at House No. 69 at Juripar in Panjabari.

According to Child Helpline Supervisor Manasi Baruah, the rescue operation lasted for nearly 30 minutes. She stated that the accused first hid the girl inside the bathroom, and later concealed her inside the divan bed storage box in an attempt to mislead the raiding team.

Baruah further revealed that two days prior to the raid, accused Baharul Haque Laskar had falsely informed authorities that the girl had gone to her home in Silchar. However, inconsistencies in his statements raised suspicion.

Child Helpline officials then contacted the girl’s father over the phone, following which it became clear that there was no match between the statements of the accused and the child’s family, prompting immediate action.

Officials said the minor had been working as a domestic help for the past six years, performing various household chores. It has been alleged that the accused Baharul Haque Laskar and his wife Amrin Akhtar Laskar frequently assaulted the girl if she failed to work properly.

During the rescue, visible injury marks and nail scratch wounds were found on the child’s face and body, confirming prolonged physical abuse.

Authorities also revealed that the girl had been sent to work in the house by her guardians in order to earn some money, a fact now under investigation.

Following the rescue, Bachpan Bachao Andolan lodged a complaint at Dispur Police Station, leading to the registration of a case under Case No. 60/26 against Baharul Haque Laskar, a retired engineer, and his wife Amrin Akhtar Laskar.

The rescued minor has since been shifted to a Child Care Institute for protection and rehabilitation. Dispur Police have taken a strict stance in the case, and further investigation is currently underway.

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