Hoshiarpur woman back from Saudi ‘hell’

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 4

After the recent return of 46-year-old Nurmahal-based Sukhwant Kaur from Saudi Arabia in May, another Hoshiarpur-based woman Akwinder Kaur today returned after suffering a two-month-long ordeal at a clergy’s house there.

A resident of Bhungrani village, she was rescued by the Damdami Taksal after she posted a video on the social media seeking help.

Addressing mediapersons here today, she said, “Even though I am a vegetarian, I was forced to make buffalo meat for the clergy, his four wives and numerous children. When I refused, the women in the house used to beat me up and even locked me inside a room without food and water,” she said.

When asked why she left her three children and went to Saudi Arabia, she said, “My husband is partially blind. I was lured by a woman agent from the village who promised me a house maid job with a monthly salary of Rs 17,000 in Saudi Arabia.

“I was made to sign a work bond by the travel agent, but they did not inform us about the content of the bond,” said Kaur. Her passport and other travel documents were taken and she was handed over to the clergy, she added.

“I was made to work single-handedly for a family of over 20 persons. I used to cook food for them, clean the house and even wash their clothes with hands. Even though I am a vegetarian, I was forced to eat meat,” said Akwinder Kaur, adding, “Despite this, I was given no salary.” Later, she was informed that she was “bought” from the Delhi-based agent and if she wanted to leave, she has to pay Rs 1.5 lakh as bond money against the work bond signed by her.

“We contacted the clergy through her Delhi-based travel agent and paid Rs 1.5 lakh to pay him the bond money for her release,” said Bhai Sandeep Singh of Damdami Taksal.