A mentally challenged person, who was wrongly confined by his family for about nine years, was rescued by police in South Garo Hills district.
Thirty-two year old, Grenal B Marak was rescued from an isolated place in Panchimgre village yesterday by a police team of Dimapara ICP.
The rescue work was carried out after a video of the man went viral on social media. Police said an enquiry was conducted and it was found that Grenal, son of one Henison M Sangma, was held captive by his own relatives and clans (Maharies) for his mental illness.
“The person is mentally unsound and violent and thereby slowing the rescue work,” police said.
Meanwhile, the patient was forwarded for medical treatment to Psychiatric Ward, Baghmara Civil Hospital for further treatment and management and a case has been registered at Gasuapara police station against those responsible for illegally confining the person.
The Constitutional Rights Forum (CRF) president Greneth M Sangma, who took up the case of Grenal, told Highland Post that the victim was subjected to torture since 2013.
Sangma said, the victim who was ill was staying with his elder sister and brother-in-law in Panchimgre village. His uncle had gifted him two cattle, which were later sold by the brother-in-law without giving him the money received.
The victim allegedly stole Rs 50 from the brother-law, who was also the treasurer of a church, Sangma said, adding, that since then he was abused and demanded for a refund by six nokmas and clan members.
Since then he was subjected to punishment, tied to a log in a makeshift hut in an isolated place at the village. The brother of the victim had protested the punishment but was threatened, the CRF president said. He later fled and never returned.
