City police investigate agent for sending Karkala nurse to Saudi

Mangalore Today News Network

Karkala, June 28, 2017: Reports say that Mangaluru City Police interrogated one James, a sub-agent who sent Jacintha Mendonca, a nurse from Karkala in Udupi who reportedly has been forced into slavery in Saudi Arabia.

Police probed James,  after they received complaint from Ravindranath Shanbhag, president, The Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF). During inquiry, James has assured that he will bring pressure on his main agent Shabhakhan of Mumbai to bring Jacintha back to India by second week of July. James was working on commission basis and had sent 3-4 other persons on same visa and they are all doing well, police said.


Jacintha had travelled to Saudi Arabia instead of Qatar, where she was promised job. She left from Mumbai to Qatar on June 19, 2016, but landed in Yanbhu, Saudi Arabia. There, she had to look after 10 children of three wives of her Saudi employer and required to work for over 16 hours a day. In the process, her health deteriorated and her pleas of inability to complete the work fell on deaf ears. She wanted to return back but her employers subjected to torture demanded Rs 5 lakh which was paid to agents in India.


When HRPF, Udupi contacted B K Shetty, founder member of Karnataka NRI Association and Roshan Rodrigues, its present president, both assured to negotiate with Jacintha’s employer Abdul Almutairy. Rabindranath said as per employer’s version, agents who sent Jacintha had taken 24,000 Saudi Riyals from him and he would let her return if they return his money.


The issue was brought to attention of Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs through media reports. She has now directed officials of Indian Missions in Riyadh and Jeddah to work out early release of Jacintha, who has been a victim of Human Trafficking for the last one year. In response, Javed, Indian Ambassador has revealed that all efforts are made in this direction, said Ravindranath Shanbhag.