17 mentally-ill in chains for years freed after SC order

  • | Monday | 7th January, 2019

We even took him to mental hospital in Bareilly, but he did not complete the course. Strap: Families Take Them Home, But Say They Were Chained For ‘Protection’Bareilly: Following the Supreme Court order, 17 mentally-ill persons kept in chains for years at a dargah in UP’s Badaun have been freed. Their release started on Friday night.However, ironically, most of the families of the inmates showed faith in the treatment offered by the dargah. They come to visit Alim often, and also stay with him at times.“My son tried to attack us a few times. So, we had tied him for his protection,” she said.She was not happy with Alim’s release.

Strap: Families Take Them Home, But Say They Were Chained For ‘Protection’Bareilly: Following the Supreme Court order, 17 mentally-ill persons kept in chains for years at a dargah in UP’s Badaun have been freed. Most of them were in the shackles for years, and their freedom came after the apex court ordered their release while hearing a petition.Chaining mentally ill people cannot be allowed, the apex court had said on Thursday. It termed the practice as “atrocious” and “inhuman”. While hearing a petition highlighting the plight of inmates kept in the Badaun’s faith-based mental asylum, a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer had said that chaining people with mental illness was violative of their rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.On Monday, the district administration told the apex court’s division bench that the inmates have been freed and sent back to their homes. Their release started on Friday night.However, ironically, most of the families of the inmates showed faith in the treatment offered by the dargah. They said that the inmates were chained for their protection and they had no problem with it.One of them was 21-year-old Alim (name changed).On Friday night, he was also unchained and handed over to his family by a team of police and administration. A class VI dropout, Alim was brought to the dargah nine years ago.“After he fell ill, we took him to several hospitals for treatment but it did not help him. We even took him to mental hospital in Bareilly, but he did not complete the course. So, we brought him to this dargah, and there has been improvement in his condition,” his mother told TOI.Alim’s father is a labourer and both his parents are illiterate. They come to visit Alim often, and also stay with him at times.“My son tried to attack us a few times. There were also chances that he might escape and harm himself. So, we had tied him for his protection,” she said.She was not happy with Alim’s release. “Now, we will have to keep an eye on him all the time,” she said while taking her son home.Mohd Hasan, a caretaker at dargah, said: “We do not chain people. It is their families who used to do it despite our opposition. We don’t do ‘jhar-phuk’ here, but people get cured because of ‘ruhani’ (spiritual) treatment which they get here.”Syed Inam Hussain, a member of dargah committee, said: “Hundreds of people visit this place daily. A few people who are believed to be ‘possessed’ also come here for treatment. The devotees write their wish on a paper and hang the application at dargah. It is believed that their problem is solved within 40 days.”Meanwhile, lawyer Gaurav Bansal, who filed the petition in the court on the issue said, “Under mental health care law, it is duty of the government to provide treatment to patients.”Parashnath Maurya, sub-divisional magistrate (Badaun Sadar) said, “The patients who were freed are suffering from mental illness and need a long treatment. We have asked their families to take them to a hospital for examination and treatment.”Dr CP Mall, senior consultant (psychiatrist), mental hospital, Bareilly, said, “In case of chronic schizophrenia, there is chance of relapse if the patient stops medication without consultation of doctor.”Ashok Kumar, senior superintendent of police, Badaun, said, “We have told members of the dargah committee that they should ensure that people are not chained here. CCTV cameras will be soon installed here. Police will also conduct random inspection here. If any person is found to be chained, we will take action. We will implement order of Supreme Court.”

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Meerut Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles