Overview

• Hamida Banu, a 75-year-old woman from Mumbai, was trafficked to Pakistan in 2002 under the false promise of a job in Dubai.
• Banu endured 22 years in Pakistan, during which she married a street vendor who later passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Her story resurfaced in 2022 when a Pakistani activist interviewed her on YouTube, leading to her grandson identifying her and reconnecting with her family in India.
• Extensive identity verification by Indian and Pakistani authorities confirmed her citizenship in October 2023, enabling her return to India this week.
• Banu, now reunited with her children and siblings, expressed her joy at returning home and cautioned others to use proper channels when seeking jobs abroad.