Jhapa, March 27

Lila Prasad Chamlagain, 19, of Rajgadh in Barhadashi Rural Municipality, Jhapa, had been chained since the age of two.

Lila, a mental health patient, recently received treatment at the Birtamode-based B & C Hospital for free, and returned home today.

The hospital’s public relations officer Pramish Giri said that Chamlagain had been admitted to the hospital on March 14.

Chamlagain was born with severe physical and mental impairments. It was difficult to take care of him as and suffered epileptic seizures. His mother Januka said that he had never learned how to speak, and family members had been forced to chain him.

A team of doctors from the hospital had attended on Chamlagain. Dr Verma, one of the doctors who treated him, said that Chamlagain’s condition was now manageable, and he would not have to be chained any more.

Januka said, “Lila could never move his right hand. He would stare at empty space all the time. But now, he is able to understand us and has become more aware of his environment.”

Managing Director of B&C Hospital Durga Prasai said that the hospital had borne all expenses incurred for Lila’s treatment.