AP women in deplorable condition in Gulf jails, state seeks Centre's help

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday requested the Centre to intervene and rescue women from the state languishing in jails in Gulf countries.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, state's Information Technology and NRI Affairs Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy said many women from AP fell victim to brokers who lured them with jobs in the Gulf.

"The brokers are taking women to Gulf countries on the pretext of providing employment. They are selling the women like products in the retail shop," Reddy alleged.

Women are being sold for Rs 4 lakh in Saudi Arabia, and Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in Bahrain, UAE, and Kuwait, he claimed.

Unable to bear the harassment of Arabs, many women escaped from their clutches.

"The Arabs are filing cases against the escaped women and sending them to jail. They are being imprisoned for a long term. Nearly 25 women victims have been jailed by them," the AP Minister said.

"The Embassy officials in New Delhi were not taking any action against the brokers despite having their contact numbers and knowing their whereabouts," he claimed.

The victims were not in a position even to call their families.

"I request you to use your offices and issue necessary instructions to officials of Indian Embassies in the Gulf and extend required help to the women victim," he added.

"Necessary steps may also be taken to bring them back to their native places safely by providing free travel and visa documents at the earliest," Raghunatha Reddy urged Swaraj.