A female pilot and her husband were attacked by a revenge mob for allegedly abusing a 10-year-old girl they kept as a maid in India.

Poornima Bagchi, 33, and her partner Kaushik, 36, had allegedly mistreated the youngster they employed as a housekeeper at their home in the Dwarka area of Delhi.

The girl had been working with them for two months but furious relatives swarmed the couple's house when they found the child battered and bruised from alleged abuse.

Chaotic footage from Wednesday shows the outraged mob confronting the pilot, who was in her uniform ready to leave for work.

Poornima was dragged by her hair out of the garage, with Kaushik trying to pry her away from the baying crowd. The locals then proceeded to thrash the screaming couple on the street.

The tearful child slave was seen watching the melee. She had bruises on her face, a blood-clotted eye, and painful-looking burns on her arm believed to be from a clothing iron.

Harsha M Vardhan, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Dwarka, said: 'At around 9am, we received a call about a child being mistreated by her employers.

'It was found that a 10-year-old girl has been employed as a domestic help at a house for two months. The couple were beating her and harassing her. This was noticed by the minor's relative Wednesday.

'The accused have been detained. Arrest proceedings are being carried out. The minor has recorded her statement with the counsellor. We are looking into all the allegations.'

He added that action will also be taken against the crowd beating the couple.

Delhi Commission For Women chief Swati Maliwal has condemned the 'merciless' couple and urged Delhi police to address the alleged abuse. She said in a statement: 'A 10-year-old girl was kept as a domestic help by a female pilot and her husband in Delhi and was brutally tortured. An answer has been sought from Delhi Police in this matter. Strictest action should be taken against such merciless people.'

Officers said Poornima was a pilot and Kaushik worked as ground staff for an airline. They had hired the girl through a relative also working as a househelp at a nearby home.

Cases have been filed against them for voluntarily causing hurt, causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, wrongful confinement, and sections of India's Child Labour Act.

Meanwhile, the girl has been rescued and has undergone medical examination and counselling. She was sent back to her parents' home, police said.