In a shocking case of unlawful detention and human rights violation, a woman in her late twenties was rescued after being locked inside a dark room of her own house for nearly two decades in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district. The victim, identified only as Sonali, was reportedly confined by her relatives who claimed they wanted to 'protect' her from a potential sexual assault.
Two Decades of Solitary Confinement
Sonali was about eight years old and an orphan when her captivity began in Jagdalpur, Bastar. Her relatives, who were her caretakers, allegedly feared that a local youth, described as a habitual troublemaker, had an eye on her and could sexually assault her. Their purported solution was to lock her inside a small, dark room, resembling a cell, within the family home.
What started as a decision taken 'out of fear' turned into a prolonged psychological and physical ordeal. For twenty years, Sonali was not allowed to leave the room, not even for meals. Food was left at her door. Her world was limited to four walls, a closed door, and the food at the threshold, with no access to sunlight, fresh air, or any social contact.
Rescue and Immediate Aftermath
The state's social welfare department received information about her situation recently and immediately dispatched a team. The team found Sonali in a vulnerable state, living in unhygienic conditions inside the dark room. District Social Welfare Officer Suchita Lakra stated that Sonali had been living in a state of severe deprivation. The team moved her out and shifted her to a hospital for medical assessment.
She was first taken to the medical college hospital in Jagdalpur. Initial medical findings are grim: due to the prolonged absence of exposure to light, the chances of her regaining her eyesight fully are slim. Doctors also confirmed that her mental development was highly affected by the extreme isolation and deprivation.
Long Road to Rehabilitation
Currently, Sonali is being cared for at the Gharaunda Ashram in Korchuli, near Jagdalpur. Sister Clarelit, the caretaker at the ashram, described the profound impact of her confinement. Not having received any grooming lessons or basic hygiene education for 20 years, Sonali finds it hard to respond to her own name when called.
"We are focusing not just on her medical needs at the ashram but also her emotional and psychological healing and mental development," Sister Clarelit said. "She is slowly learning to respond, to smile, to walk with support and to interact. It will take time, but our effort is to help her reclaim a sense of dignity and normal life."
The social welfare department has arranged for counselling and regular health check-ups as part of her rehabilitation plan. Meanwhile, the authorities have initiated a formal investigation. Bastar Collector Harish S confirmed that the department is questioning her family members and probing the circumstances that led to the prolonged confinement, the extent of criminal negligence, and the clear possibility of unlawful detention.
The collector stated that action will be initiated once the investigation report is filed. This tragic case highlights a severe failure of the family system and underscores the critical role of community vigilance and state mechanisms in preventing such inhuman acts of 'protection' that ultimately destroy a life.
