Teen chained, held captive by mother rescued

THE INCIDENT CAME TO LIGHT ON JAN 3, AFTER THE CWC RECEIVED INFO ABOUT UNUSUAL NOISES” COMING FROM THE HOUSE

- Leena Dhankhar

A 17-year-old boy, who was allegedly chained and held captive in a room for nearly six months by his mother, has been rescued from his residence at Deesa in Banaskantha district of Gujarat, police said on Saturday.

The incident came to light on January 3, after the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Banaskantha received a tip-off through one of their social workers about "unusual noises" coming from the house where the victim and her mother lived.

"The victim's father, who used to invest in share markets, had suffered huge losses and left home to work in Surat in June last year, and hasn't returned yet. Her husband's disappearance made the woman insecure and she wouldn't let her son leave the house. She is suspected to have been suffering from psychological disorder," a CWC official familiar with the matter said.

Chairperson of child welfare committee, Banaji Rajput, said the boy, a Class 9 student at a private school, has not attended school or stepped out to meet his friends since July last year.