Father dies of starvation; mentally challenged daughter Rashmi found skeletal. (Photo: X/@sapnamadan)
A horrifying case of neglect and cruelty has come to light in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district, where a retired railway employee and his mentally challenged daughter were allegedly held captive and starved by their domestic caretakers for five years, resulting in the man’s death and leaving the young woman in a skeletal state.
Om Prakash Singh Rathore, 70, a retired senior railway clerk, and his 27-year-old daughter Rashmi, who has mental challenges, moved into a separate house after the death of Om Prakash’s wife in 2016.
According to family members, the father-daughter duo hired Ram Prakash Kushwaha and his wife Ramdevi to care for them.
However, the couple allegedly exploited their trust, gradually taking over the house and confining Om Prakash and Rashmi to the lower floors while living comfortably upstairs.
Amar Singh Rathore, Om Prakash’s brother, revealed that the couple deprived the father and daughter of basic necessities. “Whenever relatives came to visit, the servants would make excuses and send them away, saying that Om Prakash didn’t want to meet anyone,” Amar said.
The victims were reportedly fed minimally, often only two chapatis a day, according to family accounts.
The neglect reached a tragic climax when news of Om Prakash’s death reached the family on Monday. Relatives rushed to the house and were met with a scene of unimaginable horror.
Om Prakash’s body was severely emaciated, while Rashmi was found naked in a dark room, her body reduced to a skeleton-like frame due to extreme starvation. “She looked like an 80-year-old due to hunger. There was no flesh left on her body; only a skeletal frame remained, barely clinging to life,” said Pushpa Singh Rathore, a relative.
Doctors at the district hospital declared Om Prakash dead on arrival. The police took the body into custody and sent it for a post-mortem examination. Rashmi is now under the care of her family, who are demanding the strictest possible punishment for the culprits.
Neighbors expressed shock at the tragic fate of Om Prakash, a man who once lived a dignified life, always neatly dressed in a suit and tie. Family members allege that the cruelty was driven by the couple’s greed for property and bank savings, making the case a chilling example of domestic exploitation and abuse.
“This was pure greed and heartless neglect. How anyone can do this to a father and his mentally challenged daughter is beyond comprehension,” said Amar Singh. Authorities are investigating the case, and the family hopes for swift justice.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
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