Goa woman, locked in room for 15 years without clothes by family, rescued; case registered

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Panaji: A 50-year-old woman, who was locked in a room in her parents' house for at least 15 years for her abnormal behaviour in North Goa's Candolim village, has been rescued, said reports on Wednesday.

According to reports,  the woman who was identified as Sunita Verlekar was rescued with the help of activists from a women's right's NGO 'Bailancho Saad'.

"She was in a closed room was for 15 years. We were informed about it by the NGO, following which a Women's Police Station team rescued her on Tuesday," Superintendent of Police (Crime) Karthik Kashyap told reporters.

The rescued woman was sent for medical examination to a local government hospital, before being admitted to the Panaji-based Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour.

The Police sources said that the victim lived in a locked room of the house, which is occupied by her brother Mohandas' family. 

"The brother occupied the rest of the house with his family and used to provide her with food. We found her without clothes in a room, which had no electricity. There was urine all around the place and she was being given food through a slit in the door," a police constable involved in the rescue operation said. 

An offence has been booked under Section 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code, police said. 

Speaking to reporters, 'Bailancho Saad' Convener Sabina Martins said that Sunita's health had deteriorated over time and giving her medical treatment was a priority. 

"What next, should be probed. Right now, she needs hospitalisation. Her health has deteriorated," Martins said. 

The Police are yet to arrest anyone in this case. The investigation is still at primary stage. 

With IANS inputs