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In his youth, Sandeep’s family lived a relatively carefree life as they traveled from village to village in search of jobs. However, once Sandeep got married and had three young children, the strains of poverty forced Sandeep to look for better work. At 20 years old, Sandeep was desperate to support his wife, young children, and elderly parents.
A supposedly trustworthy “friend” promised Sandeep and his extended family good jobs on a farm. Instead, he tricked and trafficked them to work without pay, with no chance of escape.
Hard Work, High Walls, and Losing Hope
Sandeep and his family were forced to work from 4am to 11pm, plowing fields and tending to cattle. Instead of proper wages, the family was given dry rations of rice and lentils, which had little nutrition for the growing family. Fences of thorns and barbed wire prevented anyone from leaving the farm.
“I still remember the day when they hit me, my father, and my brothers. It was terrible,” Sandeep recalls. “He warned us, ‘You want to run away? Now let us see how. If you run again, then I’ll beat you awfully bad. I’ll kill you and dig a pit and bury you there.’”
Sandeep and his family were afraid for their lives. But a greater tragedy was to come.
Sandeep’s wife, Anita, fell ill and died when she was unable to get adequate medical care
while working at the farm. (Her portrait now hangs in his home.)
Sandeep had to raise his three young sons alone and dreaded their life in slavery.
A Devastating Loss
Sandeep’s wife Anita grew desperately ill and was hospitalized. Sandeep wanted to stay beside his dying wife and care for her, but their trafficker forced Sandeep to return to the farm to work. In his absence, Anita died.
“Goodbyes are hard,” Sandeep says, his voice trembling with emotion, “but not being able to bid farewell to my wife was devastating.” Sandeep is still haunted by the memory that he never said got to say goodbye.
“It was the most sorrowful day of my life. They took her away from me. It was a devastating loss for our family.”
Now a single father of three young boys, Sandeep was worried for his children who only knew a life behind the fences and barbed wire of the farm. He wondered if they would live and die in bondage.
A Miraculous Path to Freedom
After eight years of exploitation, fear, and abuse, IJM investigators discovered Sandeep and his family.
In some ways, it took a miraculous series of events for Sandeep’s family to find relief. His cousin was studying social work and heard about human trafficking at an IJM-run anti-trafficking art show in the city. Realising it was similar to Sandeep’s situation, his cousin reported the case to IJM staff.
Eventually, IJM and the local authorities arrived at the farm to rescue 22 victims including Sandeep’s family from the violent abuse.
Authorities gave Sandeep and his family Release Certificate.
During the rescue operation, Sandeep and his father shared bravely about all the abuse they had endured, leading to their freedom.
Authorities gave his family Release Certificates, which break their false debts to the farm owner and entitle them to government benefits.
“Some of the children [victims] had never been outside the facility, so they didn’t recognise chips and sweets when offered.” One IJM staff shares.
A New Beginning
After the rescue, the local government helped Sandeep build a home and start his own farm. Sandeep has also become a survivor leader, using his voice to raise awareness of human trafficking and helping educate community members on how to stay safe from trafficking.
Sandeep enjoys spending time with his three boys and watching them play on their own farmland. After the tragic losses of his past, Sandeep celebrates a freedom where he is now free to make his own choices.
“Freedom means being the king of our own heart,” he explains. “We didn’t have the freedom to go to our villages or attend weddings or funerals. Now we can do whatever we want, go anywhere, and meet our relatives…I have been granted a new life.”
