All Shanta Rai, of Gogane-7 in Bhojpur district, can remember is an iPhone thud in her head hurled by her employer in Iraq. Next she woke up in a local hospital bed, Rai said. Two weeks had passed in between. 

After being abandoned by her husband, 34-year-old Shanta, a single mother, decided to go to Iraq to work as a housemaid three years ago hoping to earn enough to fund the education of her only daughter. But she barely escaped death and returned home last Sunday incapacitated and empty-handed. 

Rai is now receiving treatment at ICU of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan. 

Shanta’s employer, in a fit of rage, tortured her, broke her both legs and also tried to damage her backbone in what she said an attempt to kill her in Arbila of Iraq. A Nepali man named Suraj rescued Shanta from death and admitted her to a local hospital. 

“My employer tortured me physically and mentally. For no reason, he beat me black and blue and rendered me disable. I am grateful to Nepalis working in Iraq who saved my life and sent me back to Nepal,” said Shanta from the hospital bed. 

According to Shanta, some neighbors called police learning about the ongoing violence against her. “This saved my life, otherwise I would be dead there,” said Shanta. 

“I came to realise the plight of women workers abroad after witnessing the nightmare myself,” said Shanta, “My employer frequently tortured me. When I asked to return to Nepal or work somewhere else, he would beat me badly.”

Shanta reached Iraq three years ago with the help of Balbahadur Thapa Magar of Syangja district and his wife Sashi Ghale. But the couple has gone out of contact now. Shanta expressed gratitude to Nepalis in Iraq who helped her return to Nepal. She also appealed for financial help for her treatment. 

Shanta’s sister Mamata, who lives in Dharan, said that Shanta was brought to Dharan from Biratnagar on December 23 for treatment. 

Dr Guru Khanal, who has been involved in Shanta’s treatment, said she had to undergo surgery to implant steel rods in her both limbs. He said Shanta needs further treatment due to injuries in her backbone. Shanta’s relatives are a worried lot as they have not been able to arrange money for her treatment.