Mumbai: Sonakshi Mhatre (12, name changed), who was brought to the city with the promise of a better education and a good life two months ago, ended up at Cooper Hospital in Juhu yesterday, with a fractured arm and a bruised eye.

Her cousin sister Janvi, who brought her to Mumbai from Latur, is allegedly responsible for her condition. Janvi had promised Sonakshi's father Prakash a better life for his daughter in Mumbai, as he found it difficult to bring up the child after his wife's death  a few years ago. However, Sonakshi was forced to do all the household work at their home near Marol pipeline, and was beaten by Janvi and her husband Ram Nagne.

Sonakshi tolerated the violence without complaining, but last Sunday her neighbours intervened.

Vandana Shirke, a neighbour, said, "We saw this little girl being beaten up for the past two months, but we didn't intervene as it was a family matter. But things worsened on Sunday when Janvi started beating her with a leather belt and a stick." She added, "Thus, we approached the MIDC police station, who rescued Sonakshi."

Sonakshi, who is recovering at Cooper Hospital, said, "I was brought here by my sister, and was told I would be sent to school. But after I came here, she made me work like a maid and beat me regularly. Her husband too used to beat me with a belt." Pradeep Sonawane, senior inspector, MIDC police station, said, "We have filed a complaint against Janvi and her husband. They have been arrested." He added that it was a good thing that the neighbours reported the crime, which would have otherwise gone undetected.