40 chained mentally ill patients rescued

bhopal — At least 40 mentally ill patients, kept bound in chains, have been rescued from hotels and lodges in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district, police said on Sunday.

The mentally ill patients were ostensibly brought to the Hussain Tekri shrine in the district by their relatives seeking a cure.

“There is a shrine here by the name of Hussain Tekri. It is believed that the mentally ill can be cured here by using frankincense,” said Deepak Shukla, superintendent of police of the district’s Jaora Sharif area.

The shrine, built in 19th century, is situated on the outskirts of Jaora Sharif town, 33km from district headquarter city of Ratlam. The shrine is known for Hajri rituals, including use of frankincense, intended to cure mental ailments. —