46-year-old Latha, who is alleged to be mentally-ill, was abandoned by her husband when she was 26 years. Latha was staying in a room which was constructed by cement bricks and her sister used to give her food once in a day through the window of the room where she was locked. She was rescued by Women’s Commission on Sunday (May 21)
Kollam: A Kerala native, Latha, was locked up in a room for the past 20 years, by her relatives at Valathunkal in Kollam, Kerala. She was rescued by the Women's Commission on Sunday (May 21). The woman was locked in a room near her sister Maheswari's house.
46-year-old Latha, who is alleged to be mentally-ill, was abandoned by her husband when she was 26 years.
Latha was staying in a room which was constructed by cement bricks and her sister used to give her food once in a day through the window of the room where she was locked. Women's Commission member Shahida Kamal who saw Latha's agony, sought the help of the Eravipuram police of Kollam district. The police came to Latha's room on Sunday night and rescued her and shifted her to Gandhibhavan, which is a care home at Pathanapuram, Kollam.
Kerala health minister KK Shylaja said that the state government will take care of the treatment of Latha.
Shahida told media that when she looked into Latha's room she saw a skeleton-like figure and later she understood that a woman was sitting in the middle of the room which was partially filled with filth and mud. she added that she noticed that Latha was never taken out even for her basic needs.
The Women's Commission has registered a suo moto case against Latha's relatives. Latha's sister told media that Latha is one of the seven children of Chettiyar and Rajamma. Latha studied till pre-degree and has a 22-year-old son who is apparently living with Maheswari. The sister also added that Latha was locked in the room because her treatment for mental illness was going on and the threat of her running away was too prominent to misss.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.