AP govt rescues Andhra woman held captive in Oman, return set for May 7
Synopsis
A weeping video plea to Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan on social media set off a multi-agency rescue operation spanning Amaravati, New Delhi, and Muscat. Dudekula Shehnaz, held captive and allegedly denied food and water by her Oman employer, is now set to return home on 7 May — after the agent dropped a ₹2 lakh demand and agreed to fund her travel following police intervention.
Key Takeaways
Dudekula Shehnaz of Vayalapadu village, Annamayya district was allegedly held in confinement by her employer in Muscat, Oman .
She had travelled to Muscat in November 2024 seeking work; the agent initially demanded ₹2 lakh for her release.
A distress video sent to Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan on social media triggered immediate government action.
The APNRTS , Ministry of External Affairs , and the Indian Embassy in Muscat were all engaged in the rescue effort.
The agent agreed to bear all costs following police-mediated negotiations; Shehnaz is expected home on 7 May 2025 .
Chandrababu Naidu commended the APNRTS and reaffirmed the government's commitment to migrant worker safety.
Dudekula Shehnaz, a native of Vayalapadu village in Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh, is set to return home on 7 May after the state government and the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS) intervened to free her from alleged confinement by her employer in Muscat, Oman. Shehnaz had reportedly been held against her will, her phone confiscated, and was allegedly denied food and water, according to her own account in a distress video.
How Shehnaz Ended Up Stranded
Shehnaz had travelled to Muscat in November 2024 in search of employment to support her family. Dissatisfied with working conditions, she wished to return home but was allegedly not permitted to leave by her employer. Her family in Andhra Pradesh grew alarmed when her phone was taken away, cutting off communication. Her husband, Abubaker, subsequently filed a formal complaint with the APNRTS.
In a desperate bid for help, Shehnaz recorded a video message and sent it to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan via social media. In the video, she was seen weeping and appealing,
Point of View
Her phone confiscated and her family helpless, points to the near-total absence of pre-departure safeguards for women migrating through informal agents. Andhra Pradesh sends a large share of India's Gulf workforce, yet the APNRTS remains reactive rather than preventive. Without mandatory agent registration, pre-departure counselling, and real-time distress tracking, the next Shehnaz may not have a viral video to save her.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dudekula Shehnaz and why was she stranded in Oman?
Dudekula Shehnaz is a woman from Vayalapadu village in Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh, who travelled to Muscat in November 2024 for work. She was allegedly held in confinement by her employer after she expressed a wish to return home, with her phone confiscated and her movement restricted.
How did the Andhra Pradesh government rescue Shehnaz?
After her husband Abubaker filed a complaint with the APNRTS, and following a viral distress video to Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, the state government coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Muscat. Local police facilitated negotiations, and the agent agreed to fund her return.
When will Shehnaz return to Andhra Pradesh?
Shehnaz is expected to return home on 7 May 2025, with travel costs borne by the agent following police-mediated negotiations in Oman.
What role did Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan play in the rescue?
Pawan Kalyan received a distress video from Shehnaz on social media in which she appealed for help, saying she was being beaten and denied food and water. He immediately directed his office to contact the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian diplomatic mission in Muscat to secure her release.
What was the ₹2 lakh demand about?
The agent's office had initially demanded ₹2 lakh to cover expenses related to Shehnaz's return. Following police intervention and negotiations, the agent dropped this demand and agreed to bear the costs.
