Jhapa, January 27

A differently-abled teenage girl was rescued from a goat barn in a village near Thebechowk of Ilam Municipality-2, Ilam today.

The family of Dharma Kumari Lumre Magar, 18, had locked her in the barn after she started yelling and weeping every night owing to her mental instability. Human rights activists, organisations working in the fields of disability, the District Development Committee, police and locals had jointly rescued Dharma Kumari.

As Dharma Kumari had been locked in the barn ever since she was born, her hands and legs have become immovable. “Her father locked her after we could not put up with her yelling and shouting all night,” the girl’s step-mother Khim Kumari said. Dharma Kumari’s health has deteriorated and she weighs between 20 to 25 kg only. Dharma Kumari can neither speak nor walk.

Locals, however, claimed that the girl had become totally disabled due to her family’s ignorance though she could walk properly until a few years ago. She has bruises all over her body. Neighbours said the girl was neglected after her father Nar Bahadur left for Qatar for foreign employment. A team of human rights activists and locals had found the girl with her waist and legs tied.

Federation of People with Disability and many other government as well as non-governmental organisations today pledged to provide financial assistance for the teenager’s treatment.