An Indian maid allegedly had her hand chopped off by her employer in Saudi Arabia when she complained about her working conditions and tried to escape.
Kasturi Munirathinam's right hand was cut off when she tried to escape from her employer's house, according to reports.
The 55-year-old's sister, Vijayakumari told The Indian Express that the incident took place last week after the maid complained that she was being tortured by her employer, as well as not being paid.
Kasturi Munirathinam in hospital
Her sister said: “We are told that the incident happened on the night of September 29 after she complained about torture and non-payment of wages by her employer.
“He chopped off her hand when she tried to escape from the house through the balcony. Some neighbours and others took her to hospital.”
She is recovering in hospital in Riyadh. Kasturi is married with four children, her sister said.
Her husband and son are farm workers, but she was “forced to take up the job abroad” because the family were in financial difficulty after the marriages of her three daughters.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said the embassy was “very much disturbed over the brutal manner” in which the lady was treated.
The minister added that it was “unacceptable” and the issue has been raised with the Saudi authorities.
Thousands of people travel to Saudi Arabia every year in a bid to find work as servants and labourers.
Most travel come from very poor backgrounds in south or south-east Asia.