The girl, repeatedly abused by the couple, is currently in a stable condition, doctors say.
An incident of blatant child abuse has come to light in the city after the Bangalore Police arrested a couple today for repeatedly assaulting their domestic help, who is believed to be under 14 years of age.
"We have arrested the couple - Nikhunj Todi and his wife, Nafisa, for maltreating the child and causing injuries to her and tying her hands and legs and similar ill-treatment of the child generally," confirmed Sharath Chandra, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bangalore East.
The police official also said that the child, who was brought from Darjeeling in June, was often beaten for eating food from the kitchen. The child's parents are reportedly dead and it was her grandmother who requested Nafisa to take care of the child.
The girl was admitted to hospital after falling unconscious. Doctors, after taking note of her injuries, some of which were old and some new, alerted the police.
"Nafisa and Nikhunj were unhappy because probably the child was not learning the work quickly and she was not doing the household chores properly," added Mr Chandra.
He also remarked that the couple used to tie the child's hands and legs together to prevent her from scratching herself.
"If there is a problem with the child, she should have been taken to a doctor. They have never done that," said Mr Chandra.
The couple were also breaking the provisions of the Child Labor Act which mandates that children under 14 years of age cannot be employed, Mr Chandra added.
Doctors say that even though the child's condition is now stable and she could make a physical recovery in a few days, the mental and emotional recovery may require more time.
"Multiple scars are there, over the upper and lower limbs, on the back also," said Dr Gangadhar Belavadi, head of the pediatrics department and medical superintendent in-charge of Vani Vilas Government Children's Hospital.
Dr Belavadi said the child has sustained injuries to the scalp and bruises over the left eye along with a swelling on the left arm. The child was severely malnourished and has skin problems such as scabies, he added.