Police rescued a wife who had been locked in the toilet by her husband -for over a YEAR.
The 39-year-old victim was kept in the 3ft by 3ft room for eighteen months – and barely given any food.
The wife, called Ramrati, 39, has been married to her husband Naresh Rakma Kuma for 17 years.
They have three children — a 16-year-old son and two daughters aged 15 and 11.
But her plight came to light when a neighbour called authorities in the village called Rishpur in the Haryana state of India.
Rajani Gupta, a District Women Protection and Child Marriage Prohibition Officer took the call on October 13.
She alerted police who found the woman in a poor state of health and malnourished having barely been fed.
She could not stand on her own and had to be lifted up.
Rajani says the husband claimed he had locked her up because she was mentally unwell.
Rajani said: ”The 39-year-old victim Ramrati was confined to the three feet by three feet toilet by her husband for about 18 months.
”I received an anonymous tip off about the fate of Ramrati on October 13, and after informing about it to the local police, rushed to the said spot along with my team of four personnel.
“On reaching the house, which was unlocked, I found the victim kept locked up in a tiny toilet in the premises.
”From her condition, it was apparent that she was not given food properly.
”It seems that the victim had not eaten for days.
”After we rescued her, we gave her a bath, changed her clothes and gave her food to eat which she hungrily gulped down.
“In his defence, her husband Naresh claimed that his wife was mentally unstable and about three years ago he had taken her to the doctors.
”But when asked about the documents to prove his claim, he had nothing to show which led us to not believe him.
”Moreover, when we spoke and questioned the victim, she gave us clear answers which went against the claims of her husband.”
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Biswajit Naidu added: “These are signs of long-term confinement in a cramped space which is a reduced functional capacity of multiple body systems especially the musculoskeletal system.”
Police chief Surender Dahiya said a case has been registered against the accused Naresh Kumar under Sections 498A and 342 of the Indian Penal Code and investigations continue.