Jharkhand man locks ailing mother at home, goes to Maha Kumbh with wife & kids

The man left for Maha Kumbh with his wife, children and in-laws. (Courtesy: PTI photo)

A man allegedly locked his 65-year-old ailing mother inside their home in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand and left for a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj with his family.

Sanju Devi, who was locked in the home for three days, survived on rice and water only. It was only when the neighbours heard the elderly woman crying for help, they called her daughter Chandni Devi. Police rescued the woman from a Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) quarter in Subhash Nagar colony on Wednesday after Chandi informed them of the matter.

"The elderly woman, identified as Sanju Devi, was locked by her son, Akhilesh Kumar, in his CCL quarter since Monday. Kumar along with his family (wife, children and in-laws) went to Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. She was rescued on Wednesday after her daughter reached out," Ramgarh Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Parmeshwar Prasad said.

Weakened by hunger, the woman even tried to eat plastic for her survival, India Today reported. Sanju Devi's daughter has now expressed her wish to take her mother into her care.

"Police rescued her after breaking the lock. The neighbours immediately gave her food. She was also given medicines and admitted to CCL hospital," Chandni said.

According to Akhilesh, he could not take his mother along with him as she was unwell. He said that the family had made all the necessary arrangements for her before going to Prayagraj.