PANAJI
In a rare case of international human trafficking, a woman from Goa lured to Muscat with the promise of a lucrative job but pushed into a trafficking racket, not only escaped but also took legal action against the perpetrators. While her bravery led to three arrests, 11 other women remain trapped in the Gulf nation as their fate hangs in uncertainty.
Basamma Harijan, a mother of two, shared her harrowing ordeal with The Goan, shedding light on the well-oiled network that entangled her last year. Working at a petrol pump to support her family, she dreamt of a better life after hearing about a friend thriving in Kuwait. That hope led her to Sayyed Abdulla Shaikh, an employee at MPT, who assured her of a well-paid housekeeping job in Muscat.
“I trusted him. I believed I could provide my family with a better future,” she recounted. The process began with medical tests at private clinics, setting her back by over Rs 10,000 -- money borrowed from her workplace. Even after failing the tests, Sayyed convinced her the job was secure. Two days before departure, she was handed documents by an unknown agent at Dabolim Airport, sealing her fate.
Upon landing in Muscat, reality hit hard. Instead of a job, she was locked in a cramped room with several other Indian women. Days later, she was taken to a luxurious house where an elderly man demanded sexual favours. Harijan said she raised an alarm and managed to escape back to Goa, where she sought help from NGO ARZ and the Goa police.
Crime Branch sleuths arrested Shaikh, and Masthan Khan alias Pathan in November 2024 and Akram Sheikh, a native of Andhra Pradesh, in February this year. The third accused was nabbed following a Look Out Circular and assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, despite two charge sheets filed within the timeframe, the whereabouts of the 11 other women remain unknown.
Sources told The Goan that no significant leads have emerged from the arrested accused to trace the remaining trapped victims. “Lack of information about their identities and home states have complicated rescue efforts,” the source revealed, adding that the Goa government has been in touch with the Indian Embassy to facilitate their rescue.
The case exposing the grim reality of human trafficking networks, preying on vulnerable job seekers, has reportedly left many in peril with little hope of return.
Sources revealed that traffickers are not only targeting educated persons/youth seeking high-paying and prestigious jobs abroad but also preying on the uneducated and economically disadvantaged groups. In particular, migrants and settlers from other states are being lured with promises of a better life and taken to the Middle Eastern countries, majorly the UAE, only to face exploitation.
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Goa a source State for human trafficking: ARZ
ARZ Director Arun Pandey cited their recent study on human trafficking pointing at Goa not only being a major destination but also a source for trafficking to Middle Eastern countries, as well as for the smuggling of Goans abroad. Other reports have also highlighted similar concerns.
“To educate vulnerable populations in Goa, ARZ is displaying posters at key locations across the State. These posters aim to raise public awareness, encourage vigilance, and provide crucial helpline information for reporting trafficking-related activities,” he said.
Commending the Crime Branch for taking strict action into the latest case, the NGO, in collaboration with Goa Police and the Goa Women’s Commission, has already launched an awareness drive involving publishing and displaying posters in public spaces to enhance community awareness as well as support law enforcement efforts in combating human trafficking and smuggling.
“This effort seeks to strengthen community engagement and bolster the fight against trafficking from Goa,” he added.
