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The Majola children

Annapurna Sahu of Dhenkanal

Annapurna Sahu was kept confined in an outhouse for around 25 years until her discovery at the age of 45. Her family kept her locked up, naked and unkempt, after deciding she was mentally ill.

However, on her release by police from the tiny outhouse — around 2m x 1.5m, and with only a mud floor — she showed no sign of illness, and when taken to hospital, talked quite normally.

At the family home in Dhenkanal, 100km from the Orissa state capital of Bhubaneswar, various reasons were given for her confinement, her brother suggesting that her wild behaviour would put off any women interested in marrying him.

Read more about Annapurna Sahu in this Telegraph India story.