Wife at pains to collect blood money to free husband

Dang, April 23

Manika Budha of Rolpa Municipality, Dang, is wandering in Kathmandu to collect blood money to free her jailed husband in Saudi Arabia.

Budha, mother of two minors, is in the capital leaving behind her children back home.

Budha’s husband Dil Bahadur Gharti, 30, had reached the Gulf country seeking job two years ago. When he signed the contract with Riyad-based Majid Al Diabahi Construction and Est. Riyadh, Dil Bahadur was promised the work of an excavator operator. When Gharti landed in Saudi, he was assigned the duty of a heavy truck driver.

After a Saudi citizen Oteeq bin Dgafa dk Doghaleed was killed when Gharti’s truck hit him, Gharti was put in prison a year ago. The Saudi Court has issued a verdict asking Gharti to pay the fine of Rs 6.3 million.

Nepali Embassy in Saudi had moved to the court on behalf of Gharti for a review of the decision. But, the court upheld its earlier decision and refused to waive the fine.