Manoj Adhikari

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has initiated process to rescue a Nepali woman who has been held captive in a house by her employers in Saudi Arabia for four months.

The ministry took the initiative after news of Lalu BK, 31, of Dulegaunda-8, Tanahun being held captive in Saudi Arabia was published in newspapers Tuesday. BK, who reached Saudi through agents in June to work as housemaid, had been held hostage for a ransom of 10,000 riyal (approx Rs 200,000).

MoFA staffer Dhruba Bhattarai said rescue efforts have been initiated in co-ordination with Nepali ambassador to Saudi Udaya Raj Pandey. "MoFA has drawn the attention of the embassy toward the abduction of a Nepali woman who had reached Saudi for work," Bhattarai told Republica. "We have sent the details about her, along with contact number and published news reports to the embassy there Tuesday. She will be rescued soon," he added.

BK´s mother Yam Kumari and relative Tilak BK had urged MoFA to help release her. The mother of two daughters had reached Saudi through agent Baburam BK from her village. She was held hostage by her employers after she tried to flee the house after being unable to bear the torture while working as maid.

The employers are reportedly torturing her and are demanding 10,000 riyal in return for her release. She had complained her parents in Nepal on the phone about the daily physical and mental torture meted out to her by her employers. The employers, who have not identified themselves, have been phoning Lalu´s parents and asking them to deposit the ransom amount at a specified bank account.

Lalu´s husband Prem and kid brother Karna Bahadur BK are also working in Saudi Arabia for the past two years. "We have been worried after they couldn´t get her released," Yam Kumari said. "We are counting on the assurance of MoFA officials to secure her release soon," she added.

Published on: 28 December 2011 | Republica