UP Retired Railway Employee Dies After Years of Abuse; Mentally Challenged Daughter Rescued in Starved Condition

Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh | December 29, 2025 A deeply disturbing case of long-term abuse and neglect has emerged from Mahoba district in Uttar Pradesh, where a retired railway employee lost his life and his mentally challenged daughter was found in a severely starved and helpless condition after allegedly being held captive by their caretakers for nearly five years. The victim, Omprakash Singh Rathore, aged 70, was a retired senior clerk with the Indian Railways. He had been living with his 27-year-old daughter, Rashmi, who is mentally challenged, in a separate house after the death of his wife in 2016. According to family members, Omprakash hired a couple, Ram Prakash Kushwaha and his wife Ramdevi, to take care of him and his daughter, as he was growing older and needed assistance at home. What was meant to be a support arrangement reportedly turned into a prolonged period of cruelty. Omprakash’s brother, Amar Singh, alleged that the caretakers slowly took control of the entire house. The father and daughter were confined to a few rooms on the ground floor, while the couple lived comfortably on the upper floor. Over time, the two victims were allegedly denied proper food, clothing, medical care, and contact with the outside world. Family members said they were deliberately kept away. Whenever relatives tried to visit, the caretakers allegedly made excuses and turned them back, claiming that Omprakash did not wish to meet anyone or that he was unwell. This continued for years, raising no immediate alarm as the family lived elsewhere and trusted the caretakers. The shocking truth came to light on Monday when news of Omprakash’s death reached his relatives. Alarmed, they rushed to the house in Mahoba, only to witness a scene they described as horrifying. Omprakash was found in an extremely weak and emaciated state. His body showed clear signs of prolonged neglect and starvation. He was rushed to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Inside the house, relatives discovered Rashmi in a dark room, naked and barely conscious. Her physical condition stunned everyone present. Family members said her body appeared frail and skeletal, resembling that of a much older person due to extreme starvation. “There was no flesh left on her body. She was clinging to life,” said Pushpa Singh Rathore, a relative, while describing the scene. Police were informed immediately. They took Omprakash’s body into custody and sent it for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Rashmi was rescued from the house and is now under the care of her family members, who are ensuring she receives food, medical attention, and emotional support. Neighbours expressed shock over the incident. They recalled Omprakash as a dignified man who once lived with self-respect and was always neatly dressed, often seen wearing a suit and tie. Many said they had no idea that such suffering was taking place behind closed doors for years. The police have begun an investigation into the matter. Statements from family members and neighbours are being recorded, and the role of the caretakers is under scrutiny. The family has demanded the strictest possible punishment for those responsible, saying the abuse not only led to Omprakash’s death but also destroyed Rashmi’s health and dignity. This case has raised serious questions about the safety of elderly people and persons with disabilities who depend on caregivers, highlighting the urgent need for regular checks and stronger safeguards to prevent such silent tragedies. UP Retired Railway Employee Dies After Years of Abuse; Mentally Challenged Daughter Rescued in Starved Condition A heartbreaking case has surfaced from Mahoba district in Uttar Pradesh that has left many shocked and disturbed. Omprakash Singh Rathore, a 70-year-old retired senior clerk with the Indian Railways, lost his life after allegedly being abused and neglected for nearly five years by the very caretakers hired to look after him and his daughter. After the death of his wife in 2016, Omprakash moved into a separate house with his 27-year-old daughter Rashmi, who is mentally challenged. As his health declined, the family hired a couple, Ram Prakash Kushwaha and his wife Ramdevi, to help take care of them. What followed, according to the family, was years of silent suffering. Relatives allege that the caretakers slowly took control of the house, keeping Omprakash and Rashmi confined to ground-floor rooms while they lived upstairs. The father and daughter were reportedly denied proper food, clothes, medical care, and human contact. Family members say they were kept away with excuses whenever they tried to visit. The truth came out on Monday when news of Omprakash’s death reached the family. When relatives arrived at the house, they found his body extremely weak and emaciated. He was rushed to hospital but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Inside a dark room, they found Rashmi in a shocking condition—starved, naked, and barely alive. Family members said her body looked skeletal due to prolonged hunger. Police have taken Omprakash’s body for post-mortem and started an investigation. Rashmi has now been rescued and is under the care of her family, receiving food and treatment. Neighbours said they were stunned, remembering Omprakash as a dignified man who once lived with pride. The family is demanding strict punishment for those responsible. This tragic case is a reminder of how vulnerable the elderly and persons with disabilities can be—and how cruelty can stay hidden for years behind closed doors.