Chennai: A 72-year-old woman who was 'locked up' at her home by her two sons was rescued by social welfare department officials on Friday. The officials rescued the woman after a tipoff from an unknown person who called them upon seeing a video of the woman lying naked inside her home in a frail condition on social media.
According to a report on Times of India, SW department's women helpline number 181 received a call about the woman. Following this, two staff members M Vimala and Divya rushed to the house on Fifth street in Kavery Nagar in Thanjavur.
They inquired the neighbours and learned that a woman identified as Gnanajothi was locked up by her sons.
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The authorities broke open the door and rescued the woman. Vimala said, the woman could not get up and she behaved violently since she was alone for several years. They then took her to the hospital to provide her with psychiatric treatment.
Further, Vimala said, Gnanajothi's husband who was working in Doordarshan passed away in 2009. Later, Gnanajothi’s daughter was taking care of by her but she too died two years after her father's death. Her sons who were unwilling to take care of her locked her up at the home.
For the past 10 years, they supplied food and biscuits only once a week and she survived with the water provided by the neighbours, she said.
Gnanjothi’s sons were identified as retired police inspector Shanmugasundaram and a technical employee in Doordarshan Venkatesan.
The SW has decided to file a police complaint against the two members under Senior Citizen Act 2007.