Chained for three years for opposing marriage

HYDERABAD: Authorities have arrested a man who locked his wife in a room for three years and made her drink her own urine, after she opposed him taking a second wife, police said on Thursday.

Asha Begum, wife of construction foreman Mohammed Shadulla, was chained and held captive in a windowless room in their home in Hyderabad.

Local police inspector Subbarami Reddy told Reuters that Shadulla had brought home a new wife in February 2003 but when Begum protested he had locked her up.

Shabdulla had told neighbours that his wife had become mentally ill after their daughter had died in a road accident and that he had sent her away to get cured, Reddy added.

"But I was locked up in a room without windows and toilet for three years," said a pale and thin Begum, who had managed to escape when Shadulla accidentally left the door open after cleaning the room.

Police said Shadulla had confessed to holding his wife in captivity and said he was being charged with assault.