Indian Woman Trafficked to Pakistan in 2002 Reunites with Family After YouTube Video

Hamida Banu, separated from her family for 22 years, returned to India after her grandson recognized her in a 2022 YouTube interview.

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.