Chandigarh, Aug 21 (IANS): Taking suo moto cognizance of a heart-wrenching incident in which an octogenarian woman was abandoned by her six children and was forced to spend the last few days before her death in a small brick shelter in Muktsar town, the Punjab State Women Commission on Friday summoned her siblings, which include an excise officer, for a hearing on August 24.

Commission chairperson Manisha Gulati said the matter came to her notice through media reports. In her order, she directed the investigating officer to be present during the hearing involving the late woman's two sons and four daughters.

Manjit Kaur, 82, spent the last few days of her life under miserable conditions on the roadsides in Muktsar. The passersby, who found her in a semi-naked condition with maggots crawling on her head, informed the Salasar Sewa Society, a local NGO, and the police.

She was then rescued and admitted to the local civil hospital, where she breathed her last on August 17 due to multiple complications.

One of the deceased woman's sons is a former employee of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd and is also a well-known politician. One of her daughters' children is serving as Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

The police said the victim had left her house and started living on the streets. However, her family members made no effort to trace her. They also hurriedly cremated her on the same day she passed away.