Amritsar:
Simranjit Kaur of Amritsar has spent the last three years of her life chained in subhuman conditions in a dingy room at her house. The nine-year-old is physically and mentally challenged, and cannot see, hear or speak.
Her day's starts and ends in the stinking room meant for tying animals. Her parents however justify chaining her. They say the girl came in contact with an ''unknown disease'' when she was a six-month-old baby. This disease, they claim, causes her to become violent and hurt herself or others. As a result, they claim they have no choice but to lock her up. Kulwant Kaur, the girl's mother, says, "...We are forced to chain our daughter...we are helpless.''
The parents' poor financial condition ensured that they were unable to treat their daughter's mental condition. So they left her with Simranjit's grandmother Narinder Kaur, who looks after her and gives her food. She prays that Simranjit will one day return to her normal self.
What is perhaps more shocking is that her neighbours are aware about the condition of the girl. So why did they choose to remain silent? "We felt this was God's will and hence chose not to interfere," says Amandeep Singh, who lives next door.