A shocking case of alleged captivity and starvation has emerged from Uttar Pradesh's Mahoba district, where a 70-year-old retired railway clerk and his 27-year-old mentally challenged daughter were reportedly held prisoner in their own home for five years by their domestic help.
Death Reveals Years of Alleged Cruelty
The chilling situation came to light only after the elderly man, identified as Omprakash Rathore, passed away. Relatives who arrived at the house in Mahoba on Monday, after hearing of his death, were met with a horrifying scene. They immediately alerted the police.
Officials discovered that Rathore's body had considerably shrunk, suggesting he may have died several days earlier. His daughter was found in a dark room, appearing skeletal and extremely weak. Following the discovery, Rathore's body was sent for postmortem, while his daughter was rushed to a hospital for urgent medical care.
A Greed-Fueled Plot Over Eight Years
According to the family, the nightmare began after Rathore's wife died in 2016. He hired a couple as domestic help to assist him and care for his daughter. However, the family alleges the couple's motive turned sinister. Rathore's brother, Amar Singh, claimed the help was driven by greed to seize the property.
It is alleged that over time, the couple took complete control of the house. They confined Rathore and his daughter to rooms on the ground floor, while they themselves lived comfortably on the upper floor. The relatives further claimed the couple never allowed any family members to visit, telling them that Rathore and his daughter did not wish to meet anyone.
More alarmingly, the family alleges the domestic help had access to Rathore's bank accounts and had even put up their own nameplate on the house, signaling their intent to claim the property.
Police Investigation and Conflicting Narratives
Mahoba Superintendent of Police Vandana Singh provided initial findings. The postmortem report indicated Rathore's cause of death was a chronic lung disease. She confirmed the daughter was mentally disabled and found in a severely weakened state.
The SP stated that the investigation revealed the domestic help couple had been taking care of the deceased and his daughter for the past eight years. However, police also noted a troubling detail: their initial probe suggested that Rathore's own family members had never made any attempt to check on or care for him and his daughter during this prolonged period.
"The allegations made by the relatives are being investigated. Action will be taken based on that," a police officer stated. The case has opened up serious questions about neglect, elder abuse, and the vulnerabilities of disabled individuals in society.
