Saudi sponsor chops off Indian maid's hand

In a throwback to medieval times, a Saudi sponsor chopped off an Indian maid's hand, evoking strong condemnation from India which has demanded that a case of attempted murder be lodged against the offender.

The domestic help, Kashturi Munirathinam, is currently being looked after in a Saudi hospital.

"We are aware of the plight of Kashturi, 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 sought 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," the spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry 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."

Recently the Saudi embassy in New Delhi was mired in an unsavory controversy about sexual assault on domestic help from Nepal. The accused diplomat was later allowed to leave the country.

Asked about an update on the condition of three Indians, including two teachers, abducted near war-torn

Libya and held hostage by the Islamic militant group ISIS, the MEA spokesperson said they have received a video evidence of their being "alive" as recent as September 27 and they were making all efforts to secure their release. He also said that there was no ransom demand for their release. Asked about Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan seeking UN intervention to look into the "miseries" of minorities in India in the wake of the Dadri incident, the spokesperson refused to comment saying "it is domestic politics". On whether Baloch separatist leader Nawab Jada Mari has sought asylum in India, he did not give a direct answer and said India has been home to all prosecuted people in the world.