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India protests after Saudi employer chops off maid's hand

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India protests after Saudi employer chops off maids hand

New Delhi - India's foreign minister deplored a "brutal" attack on 55-year-old Kasthuri Munirathinam, who is now being treated at a hospital in Riyadh, and which comes weeks after a Saudi diplomat based in New Delhi fled the country accused of rape.

By AFP

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Published: Fri 9 Oct 2015, 12:29 PM

Last updated: Fri 9 Oct 2015, 10:07 PM

India said on Friday it had lodged a protest with authorities in Riyadh after a maid from Tamil Nadu allegedly had her hand chopped off by her employer for complaining about her work conditions.
India's foreign minister deplored a "brutal" attack on 55-year-old Kasthuri Munirathinam, who is now being treated at a hospital in Riyadh, and which comes weeks after a Saudi diplomat based in New Delhi fled the country accused of rape.
"Chopping of (the) hand of (an) Indian lady - we are very much disturbed over the brutal manner in which (this) Indian lady has been treated in Saudi Arabia," Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter.

Hand chopping incident: It's unacceptable, says Sushma Swaraj

"This is unacceptable. We have taken this up with Saudi authorities."
A spokesman for the foreign ministry confirmed that Indian diplomats in Riyadh had lodged a formal complaint at the Saudi foreign ministry.
Munirathinam, who comes from a village in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, had suffered a catalogue of abuse since taking up a post as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia three months ago, according to her family.
"When she tried to escape harassment and torture, her right hand was chopped off by the woman employer," her sister S Vijayakumari told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.
Footage of Munirathinam lying in her hospital bed was broadcast by several Indian media outlets.
Foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup told AFP that Munirathinam was still recuperating in hospital and efforts were being made to bring her home.
"We are in touch with the woman, hospital and the local police authorities. She will get all possible legal and other help from the embassy," Swarup said.


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