15 mentally-challenged rescued from godman

BHAWANIPATNA: As many as 15 mentally-challenged, kept under confinement with their legs chained, were on Sunday rescued from the clutches of a self-styled godman who claimed to cure psychiatric patients in Kalahandi district. The godman, identified as Sridas Baba from Kerala, was arrested here after a search operation at the Baba’s residence revealed the plight of the victims, police said. “We have rescued 15 mentally challenged persons from a house in the town and temporarily kept them on the premises of the government hospital here,” an official said. Patients with psychiatric problems from across the district and outside used to visit the Baba, residing here for over  four years now, who claimed to cure the patients with ‘mantra’ and herbal medicines. The place located near the local Doordarshan Kendra often witnessed heavy turnout as a large number of people came there with the hope of getting cured. Sridas allegedly charged the guardians ` 10,000 to 60,000 depending on the condition of the patient. On a tip off that the patients were being subjected to torture, the district administration and police swung into action and rescued the patients.The accused has been detained in Bhawanipatna Town Police station.