00:00 I'm a daughter of India and I'm posing this question as a representative of all the daughters
00:04 of India.
00:05 Can you ensure my safety?
00:09 The promises made by the Prime Minister through various schemes, as well as those made by
00:14 leaders who came before him, have repeatedly emphasised my safety.
00:19 Yet in our country, the sad truth remains that the easiest thing to violate is my safety.
00:27 What happens when the person entrusted with your care fails to protect not just your safety
00:34 but your innocence as well?
00:36 What happens when the very individual responsible for women and child welfare becomes the perpetrator
00:43 assaulting a minor girl under his care?
00:46 Hello everyone, my name is Zainab Zulkutty and welcome to HW News English.
00:52 Recent revelations have shaken the core of the Delhi government's Women and Child Development
00:56 Department.
00:57 A senior officer named Premudeh Khakha is now facing accusations of engaging in inappropriate
01:03 conduct with a minor girl, exposing a breach of trust that has sparked grave concerns about
01:09 the safety of minors within close-knit circles.
01:13 According to reports, these distressing events unfolded between 2020 and 2021, prompting
01:19 a thorough investigation and resulting in the recent detention of both the accused officer
01:24 and his wife by the Delhi police.
01:27 What began as a seemingly innocent friendship between the officer and the victim's family
01:32 spanning several years took a distressing turn following the passing of the girl's
01:37 father in 2020.
01:39 The senior officer's actions allegedly escalated in an apparent show of support during a time
01:44 of mourning, leading to a series of events that shattered the victim's trust and left
01:49 her in a vulnerable state.
01:52 Astonishingly, the girl's mother, placing trust in the long-standing relationship, remained
01:57 unaware of the alleged abuse her daughter was perpetually enduring.
02:03 The alleged misconduct persisted for months, eventually culminating in the victim's reported
02:08 pregnancy in 2021.
02:11 At this juncture, the accused officer is believed to have involved his wife, who stands accused
02:16 of both threatening the victim and procuring abortion pills to terminate the pregnancy.
02:22 However, the victim's ordeal did not end there.
02:25 Battling health issues, she returned to her mother's care, only for subsequent medical
02:30 examinations to uncover the extent of her trauma, both the physical and emotional scars
02:36 that will undoubtedly require time to heal.
02:38 The incident came to light when the girl, grappling with anxiety attacks, disclosed
02:43 these horrifying acts to her counsellor during a session at St. Stephen's Hospital, where
02:48 she was admitted after her attacks.
02:51 This triggered an ongoing investigation into both the senior officer and his wife.
02:56 The victim's statement serving as a painful narrative of repeated abuse has been documented,
03:01 underscoring the severity of the situation.
03:04 As legal process unfolds, the victim is receiving essential medical care and counselling to
03:09 aid her on the path to recovery.
03:11 These allegations transcend an individual case.
03:14 They lay bare systematic concerns about child safety and protection.
03:19 The incident necessitates a comprehensive assessment of the efficiency of existing measures
03:24 to shield children, particularly within the context built on trust.
03:28 It serves as a stark reminder of the urgent necessity for profound reforms to prevent
03:33 the recurrence of such heinous misconducts.
03:36 In recent developments of this matter, Swati Maliwal, the Chief of the Delhi Commission
03:40 of Women, visited the minor girl currently admitted to the hospital.
03:45 In a video shared on a Twitter account, she can be seen participating in a protest and
03:49 expressing that during her visit, the hospital guard denied her entry to meet the victim,
03:54 citing orders from the police.
03:56 In the video, she said, "For the past half an hour, the hospital administration has been
04:00 preventing me from meeting the minor victim.
04:03 The guards are saying that the police are forbidden it.
04:07 What is happening?
04:08 Initially, they weren't arresting the accused.
04:11 And now, they are stopping me from seeing the girl.
04:13 Does the Delhi police want to hide something?"
04:17 The allegations against the senior officer within the Delhi Government's Women and Child
04:22 Development Department reveal an intentionally disconcerting reality of potential child abuse
04:27 and exploitation.
04:28 The case highlights the urgent need for unwavering vigilance and sweeping reforms to prevent
04:34 the recurrence of such incidents.
04:35 It is a fervent call for society to unite in safeguarding our youth, advocating for
04:40 change to ensure their safety and well-being.
04:43 I choose to share this story as a state story because we have permitted convicted rapists
04:49 and alleged sexual asylums like Ram Rahim and Prijit Bhushan Singh to evade severe consequences.
04:56 We released 11 convicts of the Bilkis Bano case, despite their atrocious acts of rape
05:02 and murder against our entire family.
05:04 Our Minister of Women and Child Development becomes incessant over a supposed flying case,
05:10 branding it as an act of misogyny, yet remains silent about the unspeakable atrocities endured
05:16 by women in Manipur.
05:17 So, I ask you this again, as a daughter of India, can you guarantee my safety?
05:24 Think about it.
05:25 Thank you.
05:26 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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