Chennai: A 58-year-old Indian woman’s right arm was chopped off by her employer in Saudi Arabia after she tried to escape, her family has alleged.
The incident reportedly happened on the night of September 29, when Kashturi Munirathinam, working as a domestic help, tried to escape from her employer’s house. Her family in Tamil Nadu has alleged that she was being tortured by her employer.
“Kashturi’s employer was angered after she apprised local officials about the harassment she was facing there. She was not even provided food,” S Vijayakumari, sister of Munirathinam, told a news agency.
“When she tried to escape the harassment and torture, her right hand was chopped off by the woman employer. She fell down and sustained serious spinal injuries,” added Vijayakumari.
“She has now been hospitalised in Riyadh and is in a serious condition,” she said, appealing the government to bring her sister back home “immediately and help in her treatment”.
Munirathinam’s family claims that they got to know about the incident “through agents who sent her to Saudi Arabia”. They also claim to have a video message recorded with a mobile phone.
The government has condemned the incident and has demanded “severe punishment” for the accused.
“This is unacceptable. We have taken this up with Saudi authorities. Our embassy is in touch with the victim,” External Affairs Ministry Sushma Swaraj said.
The family of Munirathinam, who belongs to Vellore district in Tamil Nadu, says she had gone to Saudi Arabia to work as a domestic help only three months ago.
