Indian maid's hand chopped off in Saudi Arabia, govt calls it brutal, unacceptable

A day after a report said a Saudi sponsor chopped off an Indian maid's hand, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday deplored the act and said that India has taken up the issue with Saudi authorities.

New Delhi: A day after a report said that a Saudi sponsor chopped off an Indian maid's hand, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday deplored the act and said India has taken up the issue with Saudi authorities.

The minister also said that she was disturbed by the brutality meted out to the Indian lady in Saudi Arabia.

Chopping of hand of Indian lady - We are very much disturbed over the brutal manner in which Indian lady has been treated in Saudi Arabia. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 9, 2015

This is unacceptable. We have taken this up with Saudi authorities. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 9, 2015

Our embassy is in touch with the victim.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 9, 2015

India had on Thursday demanded that a case of attempted murder be lodged against the culprit. 

The family of the 55-year-old woman has alleged that her right hand was chopped off by her employer when she tried to escape harassment and torture.

"We are aware of the plight of Kashturi Munirathinam, a domestic help who has suffered serious injuries allegedly inflicted by her Saudi Arabian sponsor. This is a very unfortunate and most condemnable incident.”

"Our embassy in Riyadh has taken up the matter with the Saudi Foreign Office and asked for strict action in the matter and severe punishment for the sponsor. We have also sought an independent probe in the incident and urged that a case of attempted murder be lodged against the sponsor so that he is punished, if found guilty as per law," the spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

Munirathinam is currently being looked after in a Saudi hospital, he said.

"India also proposes to take up this issue in the JWG on Labour Matters with Saudi Arabia which will be held in New Delhi on October 12-13 and is the established institutional mechanism for such matters," the spokesperson said, adding, "We will continue to seek justice for the victim."