A file photo of the two survivors after they were rescued by the Gurgaon Police
It has been over two months since two women, aged 50 and 30, were rescued from a life of alleged sexual exploitation at a Saudi Arabian diplomat's house and sent home to their village in Nepal. It should have meant the end of their ordeal.
But, they now live in a hostel near Kathmandu, unable to return to their village homes and with little hope for justice.
The two had tried returning home but were forced to leave. The revelation came in a recent audio interview with the two, recorded by the international NGO Amnesty International. "Yes, we are not allowed to go to our village. We cannot go home. I will do whatever aunty (the older survivor) does and stay with her," says the 30 year old who has a three year old son and a husband battling stomach cancer.
The older survivor says, "Here we are safe. Food, shelter and clothing are good. But these are all temporary." She says she cannot expect to return home. "In the village, there is lots of gossip. If we walk on the road, people will talk about us."
The women were rescued in September - from the house of a Saudi Arabian diplomat in Gurgaon - after months of being allegedly abused, tortured and raped by several Saudi Arabian men. A criminal case was filed but due to the Vienna convention that provides immunity to diplomats, the prime suspect was allowed to leave the country.
Amnesty International has now set up an online petition, addressing not just Prime Minister Modi, but also the Saudi Arabian government, to not let the suspect go scot free.
"Lots happened with both of us- it is very painful. My prayers and thoughts are that they should be caught and put in jail. We won't be able to see this, but we must hear about it," says the older survivor. "What should I say? I also want justice," says the other.