Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Sold for Rs 4 lakh, abused in Oman, and left to die: Punjab woman rescued after 2-month ordeal abroad
“I Was Threatened With Death,” Says Survivor; MP Sant Seechewal Leads Rescue Mission
Babushahi Bureau
Sultanpur Lodhi (Punjab), June 22: A young woman from Punjab’s Jalandhar district, betrayed and sold by her own sister-in-law for ₹4 lakh, has returned home after surviving two months of unimaginable abuse and homelessness on the streets of Oman.
Her rescue was made possible by the timely intervention of Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, who coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy to bring her back safely to India within 10 days of receiving the distress call.
Hell Abroad, Betrayal at Home
The survivor had left for Oman in desperate search of employment due to financial hardship. Unbeknownst to her, she had been sold into a human trafficking racket orchestrated by a relative in collusion with an agent.
Once in Oman, she was forced to work grueling hours without pay, denied food, and subjected to both physical assault and emotional trauma.“When I tried to resist, they threatened to kill me,” she recounted through tears. “I wasn’t allowed to rest, eat, or call home. I lived in fear every single day.”
After enduring weeks of exploitation, she managed to escape her captors—only to roam the streets of Oman without support, shelter, or identity for nearly two months.
20 Other Girls Still Trapped
The woman also issued a chilling warning: around 20 other Indian girls, mostly from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, are still trapped in similar conditions.
“They’re hiding in a park in Oman, terrified for their lives. I saw one of them being dragged by her hair and forced into a car. That moment broke me.”
False Theft Allegations Added to Trauma
Making her situation worse, the woman said her own family filed false theft allegations after she left home, complicating diplomatic efforts and obstructing her escape from abuse.
She claimed this is a common tactic used to silence and shame trafficked women, preventing them from seeking help.
Seechewal: “Society Must Wake Up”
Speaking to the media, MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal condemned the incident as “a disgraceful reflection of our society’s moral decline.”
“It is heartbreaking that an orphaned woman was sold by her own kin. I thank the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy for acting swiftly. We must crack down on these human trafficking networks operating under the guise of job placement,” Seechewal said.
He also urged families and communities in Punjab to be more vigilant. “Greedy relatives and agents are targeting vulnerable girls, sending them to Gulf countries where they are reduced to slaves. Let this case be a warning.”
Call for National Crackdown
Activists are now calling for an urgent nationwide crackdown on human trafficking rackets operating through job scams.
With Punjab being one of the most affected states, authorities are being urged to launch awareness campaigns and create safe reporting mechanisms for potential victims.