Punjab Woman’s Harrowing Escape From ‘Predators’ In Oman, Duped By Travel Agent

The case has thrown light on how Punjab women are being taken to Oman on the pretext of giving them a job, are instead being allegedly sold to local people there and allegedly forced to indulge in immoral activities for survival.

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Updated on: 22 May 2023 7:47 am

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The women from Punjab taken to Oman on pretext of jobs are being duped and are instead forced to indulge in “immoral activities” in the Gulf country, the report has revealed.

The report in The Indian Express has narrated a harrowing tale of one such woman from Punjab, who was fortunate enough to escape from the clutches of “predators” in the Gulf country, following the hectic efforts of Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and Ministry of External Affairs(MEA).

The report quoting the woman from Punjab’s Kapurthala stated: “Punjab women who are being taken to Oman on the pretext of giving them a job (‘domestic maid’ or ‘caretaker’ work) are being allegedly sold to local people there and they are also allegedly forced to indulge in immoral activities for survival.”

The report said there is a group of 35 other unmarried/married young women from Punjab – who have been duped by their travel agents in India and are now trapped in the Gulf country – are waiting for their rescue.

The report quoting the victim said: “…And those who resist are kept hungry for days.”

“My aunt said that I could earn a good amount of money there (Oman) while working as a ‘caretaker’ in a hospital with a promise of a Rs 30,000 per month salary,” the victim was quoted as having said.

The victim as per the report was “uneducated, was sent there (Gulf) on a tourist visa. Her travel agent aunt charged Rs 70,000 from her and then she along with other agents in Muscat sold her for Rs 1.50 lakh to some local people there.”

“When I landed there on March 16, the agents there took my passport and phone, and I was locked up in a room. No food was given to me. Later I found that 35 other women from Punjab were also locked up there. I was put up with them. When I asked the agents to send me to the hospital for the ‘promised’ caretaker job, they started forcing me to indulge in immoral activities which I resisted and refused outright. The refusal came with a price as they beat me up mercilessly,” victim was quoted in the report as having said.