Nine young women from Punjab have safely returned home after being trafficked to Iraq, Oman, and Qatar under false pretenses, shedding light on a disturbing network of deceit and abuse orchestrated by local travel agents.
The girls, who hailed from various parts of Punjab, were enticed with promises of lucrative employment opportunities abroad, with advertised salaries ranging between Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 per month. However, their dreams quickly turned into nightmares upon arrival in the Gulf nations.
According to the survivors, the traffickers confiscated their passports immediately upon landing, stripping them of any means to escape or seek help. They were confined within multi-storey buildings that ostensibly served as offices for the unscrupulous travel agents but were, in reality, cages for the victims. The girls were forced into labor under inhumane conditions and were systematically locked in rooms, effectively turning their workplaces into prisons.
Three of the rescued girls recently met with Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal at Nirmal Kutiya in Sultanpur Lodhi. During the meeting, they detailed the severe mistreatment they endured, describing their daily lives as a relentless cycle of fear and oppression. “We were treated worse than animals. There was no freedom, no rights – just constant abuse and threats,” one of the women recounted tearfully.
The victims revealed that approximately 20 to 25 other girls remain trapped in Oman, continuing to suffer under the same brutal conditions. Efforts to locate and rescue these additional victims are ongoing, with authorities collaborating to dismantle the trafficking rings operating under the guise of legitimate employment agencies.
Balbir Singh Seechewal emphasized the urgent need for stricter regulations and oversight of travel agencies to prevent such tragedies from recurring. “These heart-wrenching stories highlight a significant gap in our protective measures. We must act swiftly to safeguard our youth from these modern-day slavery rings,” he stated.
Local authorities have pledged to intensify their crackdown on trafficking networks, promising comprehensive support for the rescued women, including psychological counseling and vocational training to help them rebuild their lives.
The return of these nine women serves as a grim reminder of the persistent threat of human trafficking and the necessity for continued vigilance and robust legal frameworks to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
As the community rallies to support the survivors, there is a renewed call for greater awareness and proactive measures to combat human trafficking, ensuring that no other young woman falls prey to such heinous schemes.
