Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Indian Student Rescued from Captivity and Assault in Missouri

Three men have been apprehended by the Missouri Police in the United States on charges of holding a 20-year-old Indian student captive and subjecting him to severe assault. The victim, who arrived in the US from India last year to pursue his studies at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital for multiple bone fractures, as well as lacerations and injuries covering his entire body.

The identity of the student has been kept confidential. The harrowing ordeal endured by the victim lasted for more than seven months in the hands of one of his cousins and two other individuals. The captive student was denied access to basic facilities like a washroom, and he was subjected to physical abuse while being forced to work at three different residences, according to the police.

Reports indicate that a concerned citizen, who became aware of the situation, alerted the authorities about the distressing circumstances faced by the student. Acting swiftly upon receiving the information, the police proceeded to the location—a rural highway in St Charles County—and arrested the accused. The individuals involved in the crime have been identified as Venkatesh R Sattaru (35), the main suspect, as well as Sravan Varma Penumetcha and Nikhil Verma Penmatsa. Charges filed against them include human trafficking, kidnapping, and assault.

Investigations have revealed that the student was taken to Sattaru’s residence in April and was subsequently coerced into performing various chores. Additionally, he was compelled to work a full day at Sattaru’s IT company, followed by a list of evening tasks. The student was confined to a basement for over seven months, where he was forced to sleep on an unfinished floor without access to proper sanitation facilities. To sustain himself, he resorted to scavenging for scraps in nearby restaurant dumpsters.

Law enforcement officials have described the incident as “absolutely inhumane and unconscionable.” It has also been revealed that Sattaru owned three different properties in Defiance, Dardenne Prairie, and O’Fallon, where the student was held against his will.

Sattaru, identified as the ringleader by investigators, resided in the O’Fallon home along with his wife and children. In addition to the aforementioned charges, he has also been accused of human trafficking for slavery and contributing to human trafficking through the misuse of documentation.

Penumetcha and Penmatsa, the other two individuals involved, lived in the same residence from where the student was ultimately rescued. During a press conference, the police revealed that they initially faced resistance when attempting to enter the premises. However, the student managed to escape from the basement and seek help.

The victim was found trembling uncontrollably, heavily scarred, and suffering from extensive bruising and swelling across his body. The charges filed against the perpetrators highlight the gravity of the situation and demand swift justice for the traumatized student.

.