KENDRAPARA: Two years back she was a popular artiste in local opera parties. Today, 24-year-old Bajani Samal sits outside her house all day long with her hands chained to a bamboo pole. Her parents say Bajani is mentally unstable and attacks people when unchained.
Bajani used to act in opera shows in Kendrapara till two years back but she had to opt out following health complications. Her father said she developed headache and behaved abnormally. Later, she was found to be mentally unstable. When she attacked some villagers, her parents decided to keep her in chains. The only time she is let free is when she wants to eat or take bath.
Bajani’s father Shiba Samal is a daily wager who hardly manages to arrange two square meals a day for his three-member family. Although he initially took Bajani to Kendrapara Government Hospital for treatment, the doctors suggested him to shift her to private hospitals either in Cuttack or Bhubaneswar for better treatment. “We have no money to treat her in any private hospital. We decided to chain her to stop her from attacking neighbours,” said Shiba. Tehsildar of Mahakalpada Nilamadhab Bhoi said administrative help will be extended to the girl soon.