Indian-American Silky Gaind was allegedly battered by her husband and elderly in-laws, who flew from Punjab, India to Tampa, Florida to reportedly assist their son in controlling his disobedient 33-year-old wife, according to several news organizations. Gaind was rescued by police in September after she called her parents in India, telling them about the assaults she suffered. She was finally permitted to leave a “court-mandated shelter” for battered women last month, India West reported on Friday (Nov. 24).

Gaind’s release from the shelter followed an online petition that was launched by Margaret Petros, Executive Director, Mothers Against Murder (MAM), and supported on social media by Papiha Nandy, CEO and President, Papiha Nandy Broadcasting Company (PNBC).

With nearly 600 supporters, the petition was delivered to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Eckerd Kids, which was contacted by a child protection investigation agency in Hillsborough County, FL.

Husband and in-laws arrested after also holding mother and child hostage

Gaind’s husband, Devbir Kalsi, his father Jasbir Kalsi, and his mother Bhupinder Kalsi were arrested and taken to jail on September 2. The trio was accused of holding Gaind and the couple’s one-year-old daughter hostage, WFLA noted. They also reportedly beat her “over an extended period of time,” the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stated.

When Gaind called her parents in India, she not only conveyed that she was being battered by her husband and in-laws, she also stated that she was being held captive.

Though Gaind did not call police directly due to “cultural expectations,” a family associate notified the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), WFLA relayed.

Family would not open door, mother screamed for help

After officers arrived at the couple’s home, located in Riverview, FL, deputies discerned that there were people inside the house, yet no one opened the door or as much as acknowledged a deputy was at the home, USA Today reported.

A deputy kept knocking, while a supervisor was en route to the home. Gaind tried opening the door. She, then, screamed for the officer to “save her and the child.”

A deputy finally had to force the door open. When he did, Gaind’s 33-year-old husband confronted the officer and also tried to close the door. After the deputy had to force “his way in,” according to USA Today, he was taking Kalsi into custody.

Then, the deputy was “confronted” by Kalsi’s elderly parents – Jasbir Kalsi, 67, and mother Bhupinder Kalsi, 62.

Deputies find battered, bruised woman

After the officer summoned for backup, more deputies arrived. When they went inside the home, they discovered Gaind was beaten and bruised pretty much over her “entire body,” according to WFLA. The trio was arrested and taken to Hillsborough County Jail.

Gaind filed for divorce in September. Her husband faces felony charges, including false imprisonment, child abuse, harassing a witness, and domestic violence, according to a records search of the Hillsborough County Clerk’s office. He was released on bond on October 2.

According to India West, Kalsi’s parents also face various criminal charges.

After each posted bail, they were released on September 20. News organizations reported that Gaind’s in-laws do not have their passports and that they are being monitored by authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security.

Battered woman re-victimized, ordered to stay at shelter or lose child to foster care

Gaind and her small daughter were transported to a battered women’s shelter after police rescued them. However, the battered woman was ordered to stay at the shelter by the county’s child protection agency. If she did not remain, according to Petros and India West, she was threatened that her daughter would be “taken from her and moved to foster care.”

An alarm system was installed at Gaind’s home.

She was finally allowed to leave the shelter on October 13. Petros told India West that the “re-victimization that happened” was the result of a system that ideally should help, but millions of crime victims encounter similar treatment “every year” in the United States. As an effect of victims’ rights being slighted or ignored, she also stated, “An aggressive approach” is needed “to force those who work for the system to honor victims’ rights.”
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