A 26-year-old man, who is said to be mentally-challenged, has been allegedly kept chained on his legs in a village near here by his parents. Though not made immobile, the legs were restrained by the chains to make it difficult for him to run or move faster.
Taking pity on 26-year-old Raveendran’s condition, a few people took it to the notice of the Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police M Sudhakar who ordered an inquiry by the local police.
The police inquiry found the allegation was true, even as the family members were otherwise treating Raveendran well.
“The family members are taking good care of him and are also taking him out regularly. They are providing him proper medical treatment. But since he had even boarded buses and went missing earlier, they have chained the legs to prevent him from moving faster,” Sudhakar said.
Inspector V S S Ananda Arokiyaraj, who visited the village, said when he reached the house, Raveendran had just returned after taking a bike ride with his younger brother, an engineering student.
Raveendran hails from an agricultural family and his father Othisamy owns a piece of farm land in the Pogalur village on the Mettupalayam-Annur Road.
“Raveendran seemed normal and he rarely turns violent. But the family members were afraid that he may go missing and hence chained his legs. We advised them not to chain the legs as it is an offence,” the inspector said.
“Raveendran is well-groomed and he is allowed to roam around in the village. The family is spending heavily on his medical treatment,” the inspector said.
Sudhakar has directed the local police to help the family get in touch with the Social Welfare Department officials. “The Social Welfare Department officials will have a better knowledge on how to handle such persons without chaining them,” he said.
Chaining of mentally challenged persons was banned in the State after 28 mentally challenged people, who were kept chained in a private asylum at Erwadi in Ramanathapuram district, were burnt alive in 2001.