THRISSUR: Health department officials raided an unauthorised centre for mental health care at Avanur here on Monday, following a court order. The owner, Karor Thalikkualm Joshi, and his wife Alphonssa were arrested and the centre was closed down.Forty-one patients, five of whom were found chained, were shifted to the district medical health care centre. The centre, which was functioning at the Santhibhavan Sarvodaya Charitable Society, Peramangalam, was shifted to Avanur recently.An inquiry by the health department officials on November 25 led to shocking disclosures about the appalling conditions the inmates were let to live in. The report, handed over to the District Medical Officer, was taken up for legal action and the Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered shifting of the patients. The ‘centre’ was a ramshackle hut without any security or proper roofing. Several inmates were found chained and bleeding from the sore wounds from it. Mobility restricted, they urinated and defecated at the same spot. Many were found inflicted with marks of torture, and one had a broken leg.The officials said they could find only one register with names of the inmates. 78 patients are found registered. The raid was led by District Medical Officer Dr Venus. The patients were ordered to be admitted to the district mental health care centre by the CJM, P S Antony. The DMO has reported the case to the Peramangalam police for further investigation.
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