Indian embassy officials have asked Saudi Arabia to take strict action against its citizen who chopped off the hand of a Tamil Nadu maid for trying to escape his torture.

Kasturi Munirathnam, who hails from Vellore, has been admitted to Kingdom Hospital in Riyadh in a critical condition after her employer chopped off right hand a week ago.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj the way the woman was treated by her employer is distrubing and unacceptable.

"This is unacceptable. We have taken this up with Saudi authorities. Our embassy is in touch with the victim," Sushma Swaraj said, "Chopping of hand of Indian lady - We are very much disturbed over the brutal manner in which Indian lady has been treated in Saudi Arabia."

However, Saudi authorities have not responded to the incident.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the Indian embassy has asked for strict action in the matter and severe punishment for the sponsor.

"We are aware of the plight of Kasthuri Munirathinam, a domestic help who has suffered serious injuries allegedly inflicted by her Saudi Arabian sponsor. This is a very unfortunate and most condemnable incident," The New Indian Express quoted the MEA spokesperson as saying.

"Our Embassy in Riyadh has taken up the matter with the Saudi Foreign Office and asked for strict action in the matter and 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, if found guilty as per law," he added.

Kasturi, who hails from North Arcot near Vellore, had reached Saudi Arabia two months ago. She was reportedly burdened with heavy workload and was not even allowed to have telephonic conversation with her relatives in India.

Once when she received death threat from the women, she tried to escape through the balcony of her room. However, when she got out, her hand was chopped off allegedly by her employer.

Currently, the Tamil Nadu wing of Indian Social Forum is taking care of the woman. The Indian embassy officials have met her and extended all support to her.

The investigation, which was carried out by Al-Sahafa police, has been handed over to Saudi Investigation Bureau, reports said.

Kasturi is the breadwinner of her family, which consists of her ailing husband, three daughters and one son.

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