“I Was Threatened With Death,” Says Victim
Return to India Made Possible by Efforts of Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal
TRIBUNE TIMES NEWS
Sultanpur Lodhi, June 22
A young woman from Jalandhar district, Punjab, fell victim to human trafficking after she traveled to Oman in search of a job due to her family’s dire financial condition. Shockingly, it was her own sister-in-law who colluded with an agent and sold her for ₹4 lakh. Once in Oman, the woman faced severe physical abuse, inhumane treatment, and constant threats to her life. Her eventual return to India became possible through the timely intervention of Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal.
Sharing her harrowing ordeal upon returning home, the survivor said she endured a great deal out of helplessness. However, things became unbearable when she was assaulted without reason.
She revealed that she was forced to work long hours without rest, was denied her salary, and barely given food to eat. When she resisted the abuse, she was threatened with death and coerced into activities against her will. After somehow escaping the grip of exploiting family, she wandered the streets of Oman for nearly two months with no support or shelter.
She also disclosed that around 20 other girls—mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Punjab—are still living in similar hellish conditions in a park in Oman, their lives constantly under threat.
Recalling one of the most traumatic incidents, the survivor described how she saw a girl being violently dragged by her hair and forced into a car in broad. That moment shook her deeply, leaving her hopeless about ever returning home. Somehow, she managed to contact her family. Her husband then reached out to MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and shared the entire situation.
Acting swiftly, Sant Seechewal coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy, which led to her safe return to India within just 10 days. The survivor and her family have expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sant Seechewal and the Government of India.
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“Need Strict Action Against Human Trafficking Gangs” – Sant Seechewal
Speaking to the press, Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal expressed deep concern and sympathy. “It’s tragic that an orphaned girl was betrayed by her own sister-in-law. This reflects how greed has blinded our society,” he said. Thanking the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy for their swift response, he emphasized the urgent need for stringent action against the gangs involved in human trafficking. He also appealed to the people of Punjab to stay vigilant, particularly against relatives or agents who lure girls abroad under the pretext of jobs and then trap them in exploitative conditions in Arab countries.
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False Theft Allegations Obstructed Justice
The survivor revealed that after she left home, family falsely accused her of theft, which made it even harder for her to leave Oman. She said this tactic is being used against many other girls as well, making their escape and fight for justice even more difficult.
