Hamida Banu, a 75-year-old woman from Mumbai, India, endured a 22-year ordeal after being deceived by a recruitment agent in 2002.Seeking employment to support her four children following her husband's dthe eath, she was promised a job as a cook in Dubai.Instead, the agent took her to Hyderabad in Pakistan's Sindh province, where she was detained in a house for three months.
During her time in Pakistan, Hamida married a street vendor in Karachi. She mentioned that her husband treated her well, but he passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.After his death, she lived with her stepson.
In 2022, her story gained attention when Pakistani social media activist Waliullah Maroof conducted a video interview with her.This interview was later shared by Indian journalist Khalfan Shaikh, eventually reaching Hamida's family in India. Her grandson, whom she had never met, recognized her in the video, leading to an emotional video call with her daughter, Yasmin.
Both Indian and Pakistani authorities conducted extensive checks to confirm her identity. In October 2024, her Indian nationality was verified.On December 16, 2024, Hamida crossed into India via the Wagah Border, expressing her joy at reuniting with her family after more than two decades.She stated, "I was deceitfully taken to Pakistan by promising Dubai. I tolerated [the separation] for 23 years."
Hamida's return highlights the profound impact of social media in reuniting families and underscores the challenges faced by individuals deceived by fraudulent recruitment agents.
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