Husband of Talauli woman summoned for questioning

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

The Panaji women police station has summoned Rajendra Phadte, who had allegedly confined his 51-year-old wife to a one-room house in a remote area of Talauli in Ponda taluka for around 11 years.

Phadte has been asked to appear before the investigating officer on Monday, police said adding that he was earlier questioned on the day his wife was rescued by the police with the help of an NGO on July 3.

Sources in the police informed that some of the villagers who were questioned claimed that they were aware of the lady residing in the house alone but did not know her living conditions.

According to the police they are yet to record the statements of the woman as she is currently admitted to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Bambolim.

The woman had been living in completely unhygienic conditions in a one room house which was latched from outside, police had said adding that Phadte had claimed that she suffered from a disease and was unable to walk. Phadte had also claimed that he came to the place every day to serve her food.

An FIR was registered against Rajendra Phadte for wrongfully confining his wife and also been booked under charges of remarrying during the lifetime of his wife. According to the police, Phadte has been living with his second wife and a child at Kavlem- Bandora.