Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India: A 21-year-old woman of Indian origin, who was adopted by an American couple, has made a distressing plea for help, claiming that she has been subjected to abuse and mistreatment by her adoptive parents.

Identified as Puja, also known as Sejal, she reportedly went missing as a young child while travelling on a train in India. Authorities later found her and placed her under the care of Childline, after which she stayed in multiple children’s homes before being adopted by a couple from the United States in 2018, according to various media outlets.

However, what was once seen as a promising new beginning has now turned into a painful struggle. In a video that has since gone viral, Puja alleged that her adoptive parents not only mistreat her but also pressure her to convert to Christianity.

Breaking down in tears, she appealed directly to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, requesting assistance in returning to India. “I am facing a lot of torture here. Please help me come back to Odisha. I want to find my real parents,” she said in the emotional video.

Adding to her troubles, Puja stated that her visa expired in 2023, leaving her without valid documents to stay in the US. She further claimed that her foster parents confiscated the money she earned during part-time work, leaving her financially helpless and unable to arrange her return to India.