Police in Brahmanbaria have arrested a doctor couple, Dr. Noman and his wife Dr. Kimia Sadat Tofa, on charges of torturing their 10-year-old domestic worker, Ayesha Akter. The arrest took place on Thursday afternoon in the Uttar Mourail area of Brahmanbaria town, and the couple was later sent to court. Ayesha, daughter of Rakib Mia and Nargis Begum from Pakshimul village in Sarail upazila, was admitted to Brahmanbaria General Hospital on Wednesday evening with multiple injury marks on her body.

According to Ayesha’s family, she had been working at the couple’s home for about nine months, but contact with her had been cut off for the past three months. The couple reportedly told the family that Ayesha had stolen valuables and fled. After failing to locate her, the family filed a general diary on April 26. Police later rescued Ayesha from a nearby house and handed her over to her family, who then took her to the hospital.

Dr. Noman denied the torture allegations, claiming Ayesha had stolen gold and cash before fleeing. Police confirmed that a case was filed by Ayesha’s father and that the couple was arrested based on that complaint.