New Delhi: After nearly seven years, a 30-year-old man, who had been chained and described as mentally unstable, was rescued by an NGO on Friday from near the Khajrana area in Indore. The place is quite near to Khajrana police station.
Upon receiving a tip-off, the local NGO ‘Sanstha Pravesh’ swung into action, rushed to the location and rescued the victim, identified as Zaid. The operation to free the man proved to be extremely challenging for both the rescue team and the police, as the victim’s mother, Mumtaz, suffered a panic attack and turned violent. Despite multiple attempts by the female members of the rescue team, led by Rupali Jain, she could not be calmed down, a Times of India report said.
The team somehow managed to grab the keys to the chains from the woman and made an attempt to unlock them, but the locks were rusted and wouldn’t open.
Chain restricted him to a 5-square-foot area
Later, the team used a chisel and hammer to break the chains on the man’s hands and feet. After a strenuous two-hour job, the man was finally freed and taken to a mental hospital for being treated. Jain said that the man was mentally unsound and was kept in shackles by his mother, who is a beggar. She occasionally fed him.
The chain restricted him to a 5-square-foot area, where he was forced to defecate in the same spot under the open sky, irrespective of the weather. A plastic sheet was put around him, and he was only wearing a towel. As per the nearby vendors, the man would often scream out in hunger or remain silent. Moved by his suffering, vendors, passersby, and locals would often give him food or water.
His writs were chained together
Upon reaching the place, the rescue team discovered that the victim’s legs were bound with heavy chains, which were anchored to the ground using iron rods and locks. Besides, his wrists were chained together and secured to a handcart.
Local residents shared that Zaid was mentally unsound, and often hurled stones at people and abused women. The victim’s aunt, Gulnaz Bee, mentioned that Zaid’s father had abandoned his mother 15 years ago. Zaid, who had dreams of becoming a singer and was quite talented, sustained a head injury when he was aged nine, which led to a decline in his mental health. Over time, his condition worsened due to financial difficulties.
Zaid’s sister Sara, who lives with her aunt, said that their mother was afraid to get medical treatment for Zaid and resorted to ‘traditional’ healing methods. Zaid has been admitted to a hospital in Banganga for people with psychological issues. He is undergoing treatment.
