In a horrifying incident in the US, a 20-year-old Indian student was rescued after being held captive for months, subjected to brutal beatings, and forced to work at three different homes. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, endured months of captivity in Missouri.
On Wednesday, police responded to a call and arrived at a home in St Charles County, where they arrested three individuals – Venkatesh R Sattaru, Sravan Varma Penumetcha, and Nikhil Verma Penmatsa. The trio was charged with offenses including human trafficking, kidnapping, and assault.
The victim, who suffered multiple bone fractures, lacerations, and injuries all over his body, is now safe and receiving treatment at a hospital. According to reports, he was confined to a basement without access to a bathroom and forced to sleep on an unfinished floor. He resorted to scavenging for food in nearby dumpsters and was subjected to brutal beatings with various objects.
Prosecutor Joe McCulloch described the incident as “absolutely inhumane and unconscionable.” He stated that Sattaru, the alleged ringleader, lived with his family in one of the homes and was also charged with human trafficking and contributing to human trafficking through the misuse of documentation. The other two suspects, Penumetcha and Penmatsa, resided in the home where the student was rescued.
The victim, who had come to the US from India with the intention of studying at Missouri University of Science and Technology, was instead taken to Sattaru’s homes and forced into labor. He was made to work for Sattaru’s IT company and complete a list of tasks every day, starting from early morning until late at night.
If the victim failed to complete the tasks properly, he was subjected to severe beatings. The charges against the suspects also revealed that he was forced to strip naked and was physically assaulted all over his body. His injuries included previous fractures and breaks that had not healed properly.
The three suspects, who are reportedly wealthy and have political connections in India, are currently being held without bond at the St. Charles County Jail. The arrests have left the neighbors in shock, as they had previously interacted with the family and had no inkling about the horrific situation unfolding within the homes.
Authorities have commended the concerned citizen who alerted them to the victim’s plight, emphasizing the importance of reporting suspicious activities. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any potential cases of abuse or human trafficking.
