Salt Lake woman missing for 14 days, locked-in father refuses to be rescued

Police, civic officials and locals in Salt Lake's BD Block are on the mend as a 72-year-old retired government official, locked in his own home by his daughter for the past two weeks, refuses to be rescued. The man, said to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease, refused any help other than timely food and water and claimed his house could be "taken over" if he left it.

Locals claimed that his daughter – a 30-year-old woman – had left home about two weeks ago after locking the main gate of the house. She didn't come back until late on Friday.

Police officers and local councilors said they were aware of the situation. They claimed that both the man and the daughter are mentally challenged. When it was rumored that the first floor of the house was already sold to someone, no one dared to break the lock and save the man and continued to provide help from the outside.

"We really don't know how to help him. I am bringing the situation to the attention of the mayor, the SDO and the police commissioner," said local councilor Ratna Bhowmik.

According to locals, the woman allegedly developed psychological problems from her divorce and the loss of her mother in post-Covid complications. Two months ago, she even tried to jump from the terrace, but got stuck in a tree.

"I called the woman, and she said she was in Delhi for work. She called a local man who irons clothes next to the house - and said she would send him money and asked him to feed her father. The number had been switched off for the past six days," said Shibu Dey, a local resident. They said no money was sent, and the man stopped feeding him after a week. Amalenda Ghosh, a neighbour, is now feeding the man. 

"The man himself does not want to be rescued. How can we break in? However, we have arranged for the police to take care of the man 24 hours a day," said a senior police officer.