After that, the employer attacked her. She was reportedly trying to escape from the house where she had been confined when she was caught by her employer and her arm chopped off.
It is however heartening that the external affairs ministry has taken note of the incident and demanded stern action from the Saudi government.
Footage of Munirathinam lying in her Saudi hospital bed was broadcast by several Indian media outlets. Separately Indian mission officials have met local cops and requested them that Munirathinam’s statement be recorded without further delay, an independent probe be undertaken on the incident and a case of attempted murder lodged against the sponsor.
Foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup confirmed to AFP that Munirathinam was still recuperating in the Riyadh hospital but said that efforts were being made to bring her home. Her employer, a woman, appears to have been placed under arrest but it is incumbent upon the Indian embassy in Riyadh that the case is monitored to its logical conclusion to ensure that the employer receives a stiff jail term.
Saudi Arabian officials have arrested a Saudi woman who chopped off the arm of a 56-year-old maid (Kasthuri) from Mungileri village near Katpadi in Tamil Nadu.
“The United States government works to protect the rights of domestic workers domestically and internationally”, she said.
Saudi officials, who could not be immediately reached for comment Friday, previously have said their tally remains accurate, although an investigation into the causes of the tragedy is ongoing.
Condemning the incident in strong words, Swaraj said on Twitter, “This is unacceptable”.
“Ever since she went to work with this family in July, things were not alright”.
Her sister, S Vijayakumari, said: “Now my sister can’t even sit and do simple things on her own, as her spinal cord has also been injured“.
Kashturi had gone to Saudi Arabia only three months ago to earn money to send back to her family.
The death toll in last month’s Hajj stampede in Saudi Arabia is roughly double the number that the country first reported, the Associated Press is reporting.
