Shanischare, September 1:

It has been revealed that three Nepali women have been languishing in a Lebanese jail.

Sabitra Lingden of Goldhap village development committee-8 of Jhapa, who returned home after serving a jail term in Lebanon, revealed that Smriti Lama of Rasuwa, Nima Lama of Kathmandu and Damanti Lama of Birgunj Municipality,

were serving jail term in Lebanon.

She said police had arrested five Nepali women including her when they fled the place, where they were working as domestic help in U Rabeda along the Israel-Lebanon border. “We fled the place after we were subjected to severe physical and mental torture,” she said.

Amrita Limbu of Jhapa district returned home after escaping from the police, while the remaining three women are still languishing in the jail, she said.

Sabitra said, local agents had been charging $1500 per worker from the house owners in Lebanon. “When we ask the agents to help us return home, they say we were sold for $1500 and we should clear the money first before returning home.”

Nepali women were being deprived of the agreed salary in Lebanon, she said, adding that she did not her salary of five months. “I was paid only $100, though I was supposed to get $125 less,” she added.

Sabitri had gone to Lebanon through an agent — Nar Bahadur Giri of Bhadrapur — after paying Rs 18,000 and on condition that she would pay Rs 27,000 later.