Friday, September 9 2005 14:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhenkanal (Orissa): In a case of shocking inhumanity, a woman was confined to a dingy room for the last 25 years by her family members here as they thought her to be of unsound mind.

Annapurna, 43, was rescued from the room by the police in the presence of senior district officials yesterday (Sept 8, 2005) police said today (Sept 9, 2005).

"We found her in wretched condition in the dingy room with an asbestos roof. She was not wearing any clothes", the Inspector of town police station, Debabrata Pradhan said.

The woman's father Brajabandhu Sahu said that Annapurna started showing signs of mental imbalance when she was young.

"Efforts to keep her in check did not succeed and we had to keep her confined to a room", Sahu said adding she used to tear off her clothes.

Sahu, who is about 80-year old and runs a flourmill in the town, appeared unable to fathom the reason why the officials were making a fuss about Annapurna.

Family members said that Annapurna developed the symptoms of mental sickness after she rejected a marriage proposal when she was in her teens.

"After that we had to keep her confined to the room", they said while claiming that she was being fed properly.

Unable to walk properly, Annapurna was led to a waiting car. She was later admitted into the district headquarter hospital for treatment.

Official sources said that the District Collector Usha Padhi, after being informed about the condition of the woman, had directed officers and police to visit the house and rescue her.

Cops accompanied by the Additional Tehsildar Manoranjan Mohapatra, District Social Welfare Officer Gayatri Pradhan and representatives of a NGO went to Sahu's house.

The cost of her treatment would be borne by the district unit of the red cross and after her recovery, she would be rehabilitated in an old-age home, official sources said.