Riverview Woman Held Captive and Beaten by Her Family
Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) rescued a woman after being held captive by family members and beaten for “an extended period of time.”
At approximately 6:30 am on Saturday, September 2, 2017, deputies responded to 9601 Greenbank Drive in Riverview regarding a welfare check. HCSO received a call that stated 33 year-old Silky Gaind of Riverview called her parents in India and advised she was being beaten and held by her husband and his parents. The caller advised Gaind may be scared to talk with law enforcement due to cultural traditions.
When deputies arrived, they determined there were people inside the home but they all refused to come to the door or acknowledge the deputy’s presence. While a supervisor was enroute, a deputy continued to knock when Silky Gaind suddenly attempted to open the door and screamed for the deputy to save her and her child.
The deputy forced the door open and was immediately confronted by the victim’s
husband, 33 year-old Devbir Kalsi of Riverview, who attempted to push the door closed. The deputy forced his way in and was arresting the husband when he was confronted by the husband’s father Jasbir Kalsi and mother Bhupinder Kalsi. Both Jasbir and Bhupinder reside in Punjab, India.
Additional deputies arrived on scene and entered the home where they found Silky Gaind badly beaten and bruised over her entire body. Gaind’s one year old daughter was located and appeared unharmed.
The substantive evidence of the physical abuse to Gaind indicated the beatings had been ongoing for an extended period of time according to Corporal Larry McKinnon of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation revealed that Devbir Kalsi contacted his parents regarding his wife being disobedient and they came from India to help counsel and discipline her.
In addition to the continued beatings Gaind had already suffered from her husband, his parents participated in holding her and her child against their will, including holding a knife to her throat, taking her phone so she could not call 911. All parties were determined to be foreign nationals of India.
The husband and his parents were arrested and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail. The Florida Abuse Hotline and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were notified.
Silky Gaind and the child have been provided a safe place of refuge.
Devbir Kalsi facing charges of false imprisonment, felony battery, child abuse and denying access to 911.
Jasbir Kalsi facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (knife), false imprisonment, child abuse and denying access to 911.
Bhupinder Kalsi facing charges of battery domestic violence and failure to report child abuse.
The investigation continues.