Bhubaneswar: An Odia girl adopted by an American couple has alleged severe abuse and mistreatment in the United States and has appealed to the Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for her immediate return.
The girl, identified as Puja alias Sejal, claimed in a video that she has been subjected to physical and mental torture by her foster mother.
In the tearful video, Puja said, “I humbly request the Chief Minister of Odisha to bring me back home. I am tortured a lot here. I want to return to Odisha, and I sincerely request Shri Mohan Babu to help me.”
Puja alleged that she is forced to do excessive household chores and lives under constant fear and harassment. She added that her visa expired in 2023, leaving her stranded and helpless in the United States.
The girl further claimed that her foster mother has been pressuring her to convert to Christianity against her will and even threatened her life when she resisted.
According to reports, Puja went missing as a child while traveling on a train and was later rescued by Childline. She initially stayed at a girls’ shelter in Nilgiri before being moved to a children’s home in Naharkanta, Bhubaneswar, where she continued her education.
In 2018, she was adopted by an American couple and taken to the United States. Years later, she now alleges serious mistreatment and religious coercion, appealing to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for immediate intervention to ensure her safe return.
