A 20-year-old Indian student found himself in a horrifying situation in the United States. The young man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was held captive for several months in the state of Missouri. During this period, he was denied basic human rights such as access to a bathroom and was subjected to brutal physical abuse.
The student was moved across three different residences. His captors, who were his cousin and two other men of Indian origin, forced him to work in these homes. He was made to work under such dire conditions adds to the severity of the situation.
Authorities have described the incident as “absolutely inhumane and unconscionable,” highlighting the extreme cruelty of the ordeal the student had to endure. The rescue operation carried out by the U.S. authorities has brought an end to the student’s months-long nightmare.
3 Missouri men have been charged in the abuse of a college student from India kept in slavery conditions. Full story: https://t.co/JXFGv9DtBe
— Riverfront Times (@RiverfrontTimes) November 30, 2023
On Wednesday, law enforcement officers made their way to a residence situated on a secluded highway in St Charles County. The operation led to the apprehension of three individuals, Venkatesh R Sattaru, Sravan Varma Penumetcha, and Nikhil Verma Penmatsa.
Following their arrest, they were presented before the court on Thursday. The charges leveled against them were severe and included human trafficking, kidnapping, and assault.
The police intervention was triggered by a call to the emergency services number, 911. A vigilant citizen, who had become aware of the dire situation the student took the initiative to alert the authorities.
The victim, is now in a safe environment following the rescue operation. He is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital. The extent of his injuries is severe, with multiple bone fractures reported. He has lacerations and injuries that cover his entire body. These details were shared by prosecutor Joe McCulloch.
For a period extending over seven months, a group of men allegedly subjected a student to a horrifying ordeal. They reportedly confined him in a basement, a space typically used for storage rather than human habitation.
The St Louis Post-Dispatch, reported further disturbing details of the student. He was subjected to brutal physical abuse, with a variety of objects being used as instruments of torture. These included electrical wires, PVC pipes, metal rods, wooden boards, and sticks.
“It’s absolutely inhumane and unconscionable that one human being could treat another human being like this,” said McCulloch at a news conference Thursday.
The charges against the three defendants are severe and involve allegations of confinement and abuse of the victim. The incidents reportedly took place in three separate residences, all owned by a person named Sattaru. These properties are located in distinct areas – Defiance, Dardenne Prairie, and O’Fallon.
The timeline of these alleged crimes is said to have begun in April 2023. These details have been made public through the official website of St Charles County.
Investigators have identified a person named Sattaru as the ‘ringleader’ of these alleged crimes. Sattaru is not just a name in the case files, but a resident of the O’Fallon home, one of the locations where the victim was reportedly confined and abused.
This home is not just a site of the alleged crimes, but also where Sattaru’s family resides. He shares this residence with his wife and children.
Sattaru, the primary suspect in this case, who is 35 years old, faces additional serious charges. These charges extend beyond the confinement and abuse allegations, delving into the realm of human trafficking.
He is accused of engaging in human trafficking with the specific intent of enforcing slavery.
The individuals named Penumetcha and Penmatsa reside in the same household where a student was found and subsequently rescued.
According to the authorities, the student had come from India to the United States the previous year, for pursuing an education at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. In April, he found himself relocated to the residences of Sattaru. His daily routine was dictated by a exhausting schedule that commenced with household at the break of dawn around 4:30 am. This was followed by a full day’s work at Sattaru’s IT company, a demanding job that consumed the daylight hours.
The charges paint a grim picture of the consequences faced by the 20-year-old if he failed to complete his tasks to the expected standard. It is alleged that he was subjected to severe physical punishment.
The charges further detail the extent of the physical abuse he endured. He was reportedly struck all over his body, a horrifying ordeal that went beyond punishment.
On Thursday afternoon, an attempt was made to reach out to Sattaru at his residence. However, the house remained silent with no response to the knocks on the door. It was as if the dwelling itself was mirroring the silence of its occupants, offering no answers or explanations.
In a further development, court documents revealed that none of the three men implicated in this case had legal representation.
“They beat him with their fists, they stomped on him, they beat him with electrical wiring, with PVC pipes,” McCulloch said. “They forced him to sleep in an unfinished basement, they starved him, and limited his access to the public and to restrooms.” McCulloch commended that citizen for making the rescue possible.
“If you see something, say something. We would much rather check it out and find nothing than have an incident like this that’s been going on for nearly a year,” McCulloch said.
The three individuals possess substantial wealth and have established political ties within India. These factors have led to concerns about the potential for their influence to interfere with the legal proceedings.
They are currently being detained at the St Charles County Jail, with no option for bail, as stated by McCulloch. The residents of O’Fallon were deeply disturbed by the arrests that took place on Thursday.
Residents have shared that they’ve had quite amicable encounters with the family. These interactions often took place in the form of friendly exchanges of greetings as they crossed paths on the street.
There were instances of playful engagement with the children of the family in the cul-de-sac.
“It’s shocking, for sure,” said Chirag Shah, who lives down the street from Sattaru’s home.
In Defiance, a quaint unincorporated community with a population of less than 100, known for its charming wineries, delightful gift shops, and its scenic location along the Katy Trail, the residents found themselves in an unusual situation. As the dawn broke on Wednesday morning, they observed an unexpected rush of police officers converging on a particular residence, as reported by local newspaper.
Upon their arrival, the police were initially met with resistance from a man in the house who insisted that they could not enter. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when an Indian student emerged from the basement of the house. The sight of the young man was distressing he was shaking uncontrollably. His body bore the marks of severe physical abuse, with heavy scarring, bruises, and swelling visible all over, as charges filed.
After managing to escape from the house, he recounted his harrowing experiences, revealing that Sattaru was often the one who physically abused him. However, he also shared that Penumetcha and Penmatsa were involved, sometimes at the order of Sattaru.
The student expressed his fear and hesitation in reporting the actions of the three, attributing his silence to their wealth and influential connections in India. He was deeply concerned about the potential consequence of his actions, not just for himself, but also for his family back home in India.
McCulloch has stated that at this stage of the investigation, it remains uncertain whether there might be additional victims related to this case.
In light of this, McCulloch has issued a reminder to the public about the importance of vigilance. He urges everyone to stay alert and report any suspicious activities they might observe.
ALSO READ | Indian National Charged in Foiled Assassination Plot Against Khalistani Leader in New York