Hyderabad: Life took a dramatic and pleasant turn for 19-year-old Pratyusha, a victim of torture and domestic violence, as she dined with Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) on Wednesday.
Pratyusha made headlines after she was rescued by police last month from her home, where she had been tortured by her father and stepmother.
She was discharged from the Global Hospital on Wednesday.
The state’s deputy chief minister, home minister and several other senior officials were also at the dining table, sharing the meal with the scarred girl, as KCR urged her to have some more food.
The chief minister asked her how she was feeling and assured her his full support.
Court appearance
Complying with orders, police first produced Pratyusha before the High Court, where the Acting Chief Justice Dilip P. Bhosale spoke to her for 25 minutes and inquired where she would like to live. Later on the orders of the High Court Pratyusha was driven to the official residence of the chief minister at Begumpet.
The High Court said further arrangements for Pratyusha, including where she will stay, will be decided as per the suggestions of the chief minister.
KCR had earlier visited Pratyusha at the hospital to inquire about her condition after the media revealed the shocking details of how her stepmother had disfigured her by throwing acid on her face, and also tried to slow-poison her to grab a flat she inherited from her mother. The Chief Minister had invited her to come to his residence after being discharged from hospital.
“My family will take care of you. We will take care of your accommodation and education,” the chief minister had assured her, urging her to start a new chapter with confidence.
Refused to go back
As Pratyusha had refused to go back to her parents, father Ramesh and stepmother Chamundeswari, fearing a grave threat to her life from them, the High Court had explored various options for her stay. The judge had also spoken to some of her other relatives while some NGOs had also approached the High Court for permission to take the girl under their care.
