Thane: Woman promised job forced into sex trade in Oman, travel agent arrested

THANE: Mumbra police have arrested a travel agent for allegedly trafficking a 36 -year-old woman to Oman on the pretext of helping her get a job as house help. However, the woman has been forced into prostitution.
The woman used to reside in the same building as the accused, Umar Farooq. A mother of three, she is separated from her husband and he lives in Lucknow with their children. Farooq and the woman knew each other well and he was aware of her financial troubles.
After reaching Oman on July 1, the woman told her Mumbra-based sister that she did not have much work. However, later she began complaining that unknown men were coming to her and seeking sex. She reportedly reached the office of a local agent in Oman, who is connected to the arrested man, and narrated her ordeal following which she was sent to another place.
A police officer said, “The victim told her sister that she was kept with 6-7 women, and an Arab would select one of them and take them to solicit customers.” With her repeatedly crying to her sister about the situation, the family approached the agent who sent her, in vain. They then filed a police complaint. Efforts are on to bring the woman back to India.