AP Woman Allegedly Held Captive By Employer In Saudi Arabia:- In yet another Gulf tragedy, a 30-year old woman from Andhra Pradesh who was seeking livelihood, has been allegedly kept in captivation by her employer in Damman of Saudi Arabia.

Though the Indian Embassy in Riyadh has started following the issue, in the absence of valid documents, they are having tough time in contacting her or her employer. The victim has been identified as A Ravanamma hailing from Mulagapadu in Railway Kodur Mandal of Kadapa district. To work as a housemaid in Damman, she went to Saudi Arabia more than six months ago. Her husband who is in their hometown, died a couple of days ago and her attempts to return home has turned out to be futile. Her employer in Damman had reportedly refused to let her go and when she insisted, she was kept in captivation.

“She could not attend the funeral of her husband and has been suffering the brutalities of the Saudi bosses. On Tuesday, she called me using Whatsapp video calling and informed that her employer was not allowing her to go out and harassing her. Thereafter, our attempts to contact her turned futile and she remains unreachable,” said Alla Narsimhulu, her brother-in-law, told a leading daily.

With the help of BJP Hyderabad City Gulf NRI’s Coordination Committee chairman TR Srinivas, the family members have contacted the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.

According to Srinivas, all through their conversation over telephone, the young housemaid was in distress and has been crying. “Her employer is not letting her go and the agent is not helping either,” he said on social media.

The Indian Embassy responded promptly and informed that it was aware of the issue and was doing its best to contact Ravanamma. The Embassy officials, to expedite the process, have asked the family members to send a copy of Visa and other contacts.

The family members informed that with the help of an agent, she went to Saudi Arabia who in turn contacted another agent in Saudi to get her employment. However, Srinivas feared that without providing her proper documentation, the agents might have sold her to her employer. Meanwhile, efforts are on to reach out the victim and get her released from the captivity of her employer.

SUPRAJA