Truly grim discovery in our neighboring country. What a shame.
Family justifies locking woman up
By Sandeep Sahu
BBC News, Bhubaneswar
Two men in the eastern Indian state of Orissa have been explaining why they locked up a woman in the family for years in a single room.
Officials say the 43-year-old, Annapurna Sahu, had been locked up for more than 25 years.
The father now says she was locked up only for four years.
Her brother said they confined her because her “mad behaviour” put off women who might have married him. She was released earlier this week.
‘No clothes on’
The father of Annapurna, Brajobandhu Sahu denied that he and his son had treated her inhumanely.
The brother, Ganeswar Sahu, told journalists that his chances of marriage kept falling through because of his “mad sister who would walk up in front of the visitors without any clothes” on.
Annapurna was confined in an abandoned outhouse - only a few feet high and without proper flooring.
The family said she was not mistreated and was given food and water regularly.
Eyewitnesses present during the rescue operation in the town of Dhenkanal, 100km (62 miles) from state capital, Bhubaneswar, said Ms Sahu was living in inhumane conditions.
She was reportedly naked when she was found.
On Friday the brother said she had to be segregated from the rest of the family after she started abusing others.
He mother said Annapurna had dug up the floor of her small room.
Following her rescue, Annapurna Sahu was taken to a hospital in Dhenkanal.
Surendra Mohanty, the doctor treating her, said she had shown signs of improvement since she was admitted.
She was due to be given a detailed examination of her mental state on Saturday, the doctor said.
District magistrate, Usha Padhi, said Ms Sahu would later be shifted to a rehabilitation home.
The cost of her treatment would be paid by the district unit of the Red Cross, she said.
A counsellor from an NGO attending Ms Sahu said she appeared to be weak and emaciated.
Pallavi Nanda, of the Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati Service Mission, said Ms Sahu was taking food and was responding to questions normally.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2005/09/10 10:46:08 GMT
getting too many wet dreams. auntybulbul, allahuakbar bubba!