Balasore: An Odia-born girl adopted by an American couple has alleged severe physical and mental torture in the United States and has made an emotional plea to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for her immediate return to the state.
The young woman, identified as Puja alias Sejal from Balasore, claimed she has been enduring constant abuse at the hands of her adoptive mother in the U.S. “I have no freedom. I am hardly allowed to go out. I’m deprived of proper food, rest, and sleep, yet forced to do all the household chores,” Puja alleged in a tearful video message.
In the video, Puja said her visa expired in 2023, leaving her stranded in the U.S. without legal documents. She further claimed that her adoptive mother has been pressuring her to convert to another faith. “I am tortured a lot here. I want to return to Odisha as soon as possible and sincerely request the Chief Minister to help me,” she pleaded.
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The matter came to light after Puja shared her ordeal with her former orphanage mate Amar Das through social media. Amar subsequently brought the issue to the attention of authorities by submitting a memorandum to the district collector, addressed to the Chief Minister, seeking urgent intervention to rescue Puja.
According to reports, Puja had been staying in a Childline shelter home before being adopted by a U.S. couple in 2018. Prior to that, she was rescued as a child after going missing during a train journey. She initially stayed at a girls’ shelter in Nilagiri and later moved to a children’s home in Naharkanta, Bhubaneswar, where she continued her education until her adoption.
Puja now says what once seemed like a dream opportunity has turned into a nightmare.
PNN