Woman who was locked up for 15 years rescued in Goa

Following intervention of a local women’s collective, a 45-year-old woman was rescued late on Tuesday from a locked room of her maternal house in Candolim village in north coastal Goa, after nearly 15 years.

Superintendent of Police, Crime, Karthik Kashyap told  that the woman was rescued with the help of activists from “Bailancho Saad.”

“She was in a closed room was for 15 years. We were informed about it by the NGO who got an e-mail from a local citizens’ group from Candolim village, following which a Women’s Police Station team rescued her,” Mr. Kashyap said and added that she was sent to State-owned Goa Medical College hospital for medical check-up and subsequently sent to State-owned Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB).

The rescued woman has been identified as Sunita Verlekar and was later



discharged and went with the NGO. Police sources said that the victim lived in one room of a house, which belonged to her brother.

“The brother, who lived in the same house with his family used to feed her, but we found her without clothes in a room, which had no electricity. There was urine all around the place and she was being given food through a slit in the door,” a police constable who was involved in the rescue operation said.

The brother, Mohandas Verlekar has been booked under Section 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code.

Sabina Martins, convenor of Bailancho Saad told  that Sunita’s health had deteriorated over time, treating her was priority.

“What next, the case should be probed. Right now, she needs hospitalisation. Her health has deteriorated,” Ms. Martins said.