Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, Dec 23: Two grown-up mentally ill sisters, who were kept confined to their house by their mother for about 10 years, were rescued on Tuesday December 23 at Bannanje here.

Sulochana, a resident of Siribeedu in Bannanje, had kept her daughters Soumya (38) (name changed) and Veena (32) (name changed) confined to the house. They were rescued after locals informed the media and the matter came to the notice of the women and child welfare department and officials of the district administration.

It is learnt that Sulochana's husband Seetarama had passed away some ten years ago. His death reportedly had a deep impact on the daughters, and added to that, they were also allegedly harassed following his death, resulting in their mental health deteriorating. The sisters were brilliant in academics in school and used to go to work, but after their father's death, they stopped working, sources said.

Since then, it is said that Sulochana did not let her daughters venture out of the house at all. She kept them confined inside the house so much so that even the locals were unaware of their existence until recently, sources said.

On Monday December 22, the local media focussed on the issue after being alerted by some persons. On Tuesday, the officials of the women and child welfare department along with police and women's groups arrived at the house with the intention to rescue the sisters.

However, intially, Sulochana refused to open the door. After about one-and-a-half hours of coaxing failed to produce any result, a relative of Sulochana arrived and managed to convince her to open the door.

The officials then took the sisters and their mother to the hospital by 108 ambulance for checkup.

Speaking to reporters, Rajendra Bekal, deputy director of women and child welfare department, said that the three women would be first medically examined, counselled and if needed, sent to a rehabilitation home.

It is learnt that Sulochana also has a younger son who is working in another city. He used to  send them money regularly to meet their expenses, sources said. A relative who runs a cloth store in Udupi also helped them with the expenses, it is gathered.

As the news spread, locals gathered in large numbers at the premises of the house.