Kapurthala Man Abducted by Traffickers in Colombia Returns Home

Balwinder Singh, a Kapurthala resident, returns home after abduction in Colombia.
He was held captive for over six months by human traffickers.
His family received distressing videos demanding ransom for his release.
Balwinder’s journey included perilous routes through multiple countries.
He managed to escape and contact his family after months of silence.

Balwinder’s Journey Through Multiple Countries Took a Dark Turn

A young man from Punjab, Balwinder Singh, recently returned home after a terrifying ordeal in Colombia where he had been held captive by human traffickers for over six months. The 25-year-old resident of Baaz village in Kapurthala originally set out with high hopes and a hefty sum of ₹28 lakh, which he spent attempting to reach the United States via treacherous routes often labeled as the ‘donkey route.’ Tragically, his aspirations came to a devastating halt in February when he became a victim of abduction by trafficking syndicates, leaving his family and friends fearing the worst as his condition went from hopeful to helpless.

Family Endures Trauma as Ransom Threats Emerge

Upon his recent return on Thursday, Balwinder met with AAP Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal who had advocated on his behalf with the Ministry of External Affairs. In recounting his harrowing experiences, Balwinder shared horrifying details of the treatment he endured at the hands of his captors. He described moments of shocking violence where he and his companions faced brutal attacks, including being slashed with blades, while one of them was subjected to being burned with molten plastic. According to Balwinder, the traffickers filmed these incidents of brutality, sending the distressing videos back to their families in India as a means to extort ransom.

Escaping the Traffickers: Balwinder’s Courageous Return

Balwinder’s journey from India to Colombia was nothing short of a nightmare that began with an elaborate route through several countries. After departing Delhi, he was shuffled through Mumbai, then on to the Netherlands, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Brazil, ultimately landing in Colombia’s unforgiving landscape. Upon his arrival, the conditions took a dire turn as traffickers seized all personal possessions; they confiscated passports and phones, locking the victims—mostly young men from Punjab and Haryana—in a grim setting. Nonetheless, Balwinder managed an escape and found refuge. After months of silence, the moment came when, on May 29, he reached out to his family; sharing that he was alive brought them a mix of relief and an iron grip of fear.

The Resourcefulness of Balwinder and the Family’s Resolve

Recalling the way his family first learned of the ordeal, Balwinder explained the horror of them receiving a torture video on February 13, followed by demands for a considerable sum of money—a rapid descent into despair for his loved ones. They faced persistent threats to their son’s life; however, they resolutely refused to pay any ransom, which Balwinder emphasized as a point of pride instead of surrender. This ordeal has left not only emotional scars but also highlights the terrifying reach of human trafficking networks that prey on hopeful but vulnerable individuals.

Balwinder Singh’s harrowing journey from Punjab to Colombia unveils the dark realities of human trafficking and the courageous efforts of families in distress. His return, after surviving brutalities, shines a light on the resilience of those caught in such life-threatening situations. Moving forward, more awareness and action are critical to combat these heinous crimes.