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Hanumangarh (Rajasthan): He lost his mental balance at the age of 13 after his best
friend died in front of him. For the next 12 years, Gangajal has
been living tied to an iron chain in a dark corner of his house
for lack of medical treatment.
Unable to afford a proper cure and getting no assistance from the
government, the family of the 25-year-old in Sangaria in
Hanumangarh district, , over 330 km from Jaipur, has kept him tied
to chains.
Gangajal was going to school along with his friend when the
unfortunate accident took place and changed his life forever.
Speaking to IANS, Nikku Ram, Gangajal's distraught father, says
his son did not move for months after the shock and when he came
out of the near-coma situation, he kept shouting and throwing
things at people.
"He didn't sleep for many nights and kept us awake by shouting.
The neighbours kept complaining. At times, he would turn violent
and start throwing things at passersby. So we decided to keep him
chained," said Ram.
The young man still suffers from hallucinations and other mental
ailments.
Ram, a labourer, did try to get him treated initially, but it was
too expensive. Moreover, he had a family of 11 to feed.
"After my savings dried up, I couldn't even think of getting
treatment for Gangajal. My earnings as a labourer are not enough
even for our survival, leave aside treatment.
"I have approached many officials, but nobody has so far come
forward for help. I get assurances only. I have requested for a
handicap certificate so that we can avail financial help, but that
too has been denied," he said.
(Anil Sharma
can be contacted at anil.s@ians.in)
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