Hamida Bano, originally from Mumbai, arrived in Hyderabad, Pakistan, in 2002.
New Delhi: Hamida Bano, an Indian woman who was deceived into traveling to Pakistan over two decades ago by a fraudulent travel agent, has finally returned to India after nearly 22 years in the neighboring country.
Upon her arrival in India, Hamida, who was in a wheelchair, was handed over to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After completing the necessary paperwork, the Indian Immigration and Customs Department transferred her to the Tehsildar Attari of the District Administration. She was then taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar for medical treatment.
Hamida recounted her harrowing experience, explaining that she had been fraudulently brought to Pakistan by a travel agent under the false pretense of securing a job in Dubai. She had lived in Mumbai before the ordeal and was promised a better future, but instead, the agent took her to Hyderabad in Pakistan’s Sindh province. She said she never imagined she would return to India, but a year ago, the Indian Embassy contacted her and informed her that she could finally come back home.
Describing her life in Pakistan, Hamida revealed that she felt like a “living corpse” during her time there. Although the Pakistani government never harmed her, she lived with a Sindhi man who later married her. However, he passed away after 12 years of marriage.
Hamida expressed her gratitude towards both the Indian and Pakistani governments for their help in facilitating her return to India.
In 2022, a local YouTuber, Waliullah Maroof, brought attention to Hamida’s plight by sharing her story in a vlog. His efforts led to her family being reconnected with her, and through Maroof’s support, her daughter Yasmeen was able to speak with her on the phone.
Before leaving India in 2002, Hamida had been the sole breadwinner for her four children following her husband’s death. She had worked as a cook in Doha, Qatar, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia without any problems before falling victim to the deceitful recruitment agent.
With IANS inputs