LUDHIANA: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) on Thursday rescued a mentally unstable
woman and her seven-year-old son allegedly confined by her stepson inside two rooms of a government quarter in Dugri. The
DLSA is now looking for some
NGO that can take care of the mother and child.
DLSA officials said that Dugri resident Surjit Dave had brought the matter to their notice that Sudha, who is in her forties, and her son Shiv kumar, who until last year was studying in primary class, were confined by her stepson, Suresh Kumar, 30. They added that after receiving the complaint, DLSA responded promptly and on instructions from DLSA chairman-cum-sessions judge Gurbir Singh, a team comprising DLSA secretary Gurpreet Kaur and psychiatrist from civil hospital Dr Vivek Goyal and an advocate visited the spot.
DLSA authorities said that the team was shocked to see Sudha lying on the bed with feces, urine etc lying around her even as she couldn’t stand due to acute weakness whereas her son was in another room and couldn't move due to weakness. They added that on inquiry, the team came to know that Jai Ram, husband of Sudha who worked in PWD department, had expired in April last year and since then she was under acute depression.
DLSA officials said that after the death of husband of Sudha, her stepson had got the job in place of his father. They added that Suresh Kumar would lock his stepmother in the morning in one room and would confine his stepbrother in other room before leaving the quarters and would occasionally give them food.
A team member said that the woman was so depressed that she had scratched the cement of the walls of her room and was crying badly after being rescued. She might have tried to end her life many times and on one occasion, she tried to burn herself as she was under acute depression after her husband’s death.
“After rescuing the duo, we got Sudha admitted in the psychiatry ward of civil hospital where she is undergoing treatment whereas Shiv Kumar, who is very weak an underweight, is admitted in Deep Hospital. Doctors at civil hospital have told us that there are chances of Sudha being treated whereas her son is being given meals five times a day so that he gains weight. After they overcome the trauma, we will approach few NGOs who take care of such persons so that they live a dignified life," said CJM and secretary, DLSA, Gurpreet Kaur. “We are also exploring whether we can get pension to Sudha as her husband was with PWD. We will ensure that her son gets education and is in proper health."
DLSA team member said that this is social irresponsibility on part of the stepson of Sudha. The member added that the Suresh Kumar was also ill when her stepmother and stepbrother were recovered, but he is mentally sound.
Ludhiana: Woman, minor son hel...
