*Dec 28, 2010* *Bangalore:* A 26-year-old advertising professional, who was ''illegally'' detained at a drug rehabilitation centre, allegedly on the request of her parents, was rescued when the centre at Kanakapura was raided by the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission.
Vikitha, a creative head with Enterprise Business Solutions and a resident of Teachers’ Colony, HSR Layout, was lodged in the de-addiction centre of Abhaya Hospital four days ago for alleged “alcohol and drug addiction”. It all started when the victim’s parents began objecting to her coming home late at night. Suspecting her of being a junkie and an alcoholic, they took her to task. Unable to bear the torture, Vikitha decided to leave her family. “I would usually return home at 1 am because of job requirements. This, however, led my parents to think I was doing nasty things. They pestered me beyond parental authority,” Vikitha told Deccan Herald. She then decided to move out of her house. But all hell broke loose when her parents came to know about it. “About a week ago, they harassed me and thrashed me till I agreed not to leave the family. Later, I was locked up in the bathroom,” she said. At this juncture, Vikitha somehow managed to call the Madivala police who came and took her to the police station. Her parents were also taken along. When the parents were questioned, they claimed Vikitha was “mentally retarded” and an “alcoholic”. They took her to Abhaya Hospital at Wilson Garden to get a medical certificate. “She was supposed to be taken to Sri Venkateshwara Hospital in BTM Layout,” a friend of Vikitha’s said. According to Madivala police inspector, Purusotham M L, Vikitha looked “perfectly normal” when he talked to her. “Her parents didn’t lodge any complaint with us but only sought assistance in taking her to the de-addiction centre. We tried to convince her parents but they didn’t budge,” Purusotham told this newspaper. Subsequently, she was shifted there but no policewoman accompanied her, in violation of Section 19 of the Mental Health Act, 1987. “I was put up there for about four days. I was the only woman inmate there,” Vikitha said. At this point, Vikitha’s colleagues came to her rescue and approached the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring, an NGO, for help. The NGO approached the KSHRC which raided the de-addiction centre on Monday night. Consequently, Vikitha’s custody was given to her uncle. Now, she wants her parents to apologise.Vikitha is a BSc (fine arts) graduate from Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College. She took up her present job five months ago. Before this, she ran her own company in partnership with a friend. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/124525/ad-professional-rescued-addiction-centre.html -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
