Punjab Newsline | Mohali
A shocking alleged human trafficking case has surfaced in Punjab, where a young woman from Mohali was reportedly lured to Rajasthan with the promise of a role in films and later sold. Following a complaint, Phase-8 Police Station in Mohali has registered a case and launched an investigation. Taking serious note of the allegations, the Punjab State Women Commission has taken suo motu cognizance and sought a detailed report from Mohali Police.
According to social activist Balwinder Singh Kumbhra, the missing woman is suspected to be in Rajasthan. He alleged that a group of people convinced her to travel with them by promising work in the film industry before allegedly selling her. The case came to light after another young woman managed to escape from the same alleged trafficking network and returned to Mohali, where she informed the victim's family about the incident.
Kumbra further claimed that the gang demanded ₹1.5 lakh from the family of the rescued woman for her release. Despite financial hardship, the family reportedly mortgaged farmland and jewellery to arrange the money and transferred it online to a bank account provided by the accused.
The rescued woman was later brought back from Rajasthan, handed over to local police, and reunited with her family. She reportedly told investigators that several other young women were being held at the same location and feared they were also victims of human trafficking.
Meanwhile, the missing woman is said to have shared her location using another person's mobile phone. The information has been handed over to police, who are making efforts to trace and rescue her safely while investigating the alleged trafficking network. The Punjab State Women Commission has directed Mohali Police to submit a progress report on the investigation at the earliest.
