JAMMU: The missing domestic help of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Rajouri has been traced in Mumbai, two and half months after his mysterious disappearance from Jammu. His family received a phone call from him this morning and the minor is reported to have told his parents that the wife and the PSO of the Judge had tortured him during his stay in their residence.
The victim, who was engaged as domestics help at the age of 12, said that he was being ill treated and beaten up as he was witness to some immoral acts in the Judge’s house, said Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat, who is Chairperson, Voice for Rights as also also an activist working against the child labour.
“We were apprehending that Rafiq Choudhary, 15 might have been murdered. Fortunately, he is alive and his family is very happy,” said Advocate Singh, adding he is being shifted to Jammu with the help of Mumbai Police.
Advocate Singh has demanded action against the Judge for employing a 12 year old child, Rafiq Choudharty at his residence as domestic help three years ago. She has filed a PIL against the growing menace of child labour in Jammu and Kashmir. The mysterious disappearance of Rafiq Chourdhary from the residence of the Judge had raised furour and question mark over brazen violation of child labour laws by senior politicians, bureaucrats and persons at helm in Jammu and Kashmir.
On the Court directions, a Special Investigating Team (SIT) was constituted to investigate disappearance of the child employed by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rajouri, Mehmood Rehman Choudhary, son of a former Minister, Lal Mohammed Saber.
Deepika said, the Judge has been accused of allegedly violating Child Labour Act, 1986 by employing a 12 year old age child as domestic help knowing well that it was an offence under law.
Highlighting the police inaction into the matter, she said that the child was missing since 12th April but police failed to take action against the delinquent employer. She had made a fervent appeal to Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court and the Chief Minister to order probe by constituting SIT led by a senior and impartial police officer to ascertain the facts and punish the guilty.
Father of the missing child, Farooq Ahmed had levelled serious charges against the Judge, saying that they were deceived on the pretext of sending the boy to school. “The Judge had promised that on attaining majority, he will use his clout to provide employment to the child”, he said.
Sources told STATE TIMES that the missing domestic help was in know of certain unethical activities of a Personal Security Officer (PSO) Noor Mohammed, deployed with the Judge. On the day of his disappearance, he was reported to have witnessed ‘something alarming going on in the household’ and since then he was not seen by the neighbours. The PSO remains along with Judge’s family here though he himself is posted at Rajouri.
Rafiq will be produced before the Court on his arrival at Jammu, Deepika said.