Human trafficking victim from Kerala to be airlifted from Malaysia for treatment

Time of India

19-05-2025

T'puram:
Mini Bhargavan
, 54, from Kattappana, who suffered burns while working as a domestic help in Malaysia, will be airlifted to Kochi on Thursday by an air ambulance. Bhargavan, a victim of human trafficking, has been in coma for over two months with about 26% severe burns and unable to breathe without ventilator support.
Although she was admitted to Penang General Hospital at George Town in Malaysia on March 8 after suffering burns at workplace, her employer did not inform her relatives. Her health worsened as she developed a lung infection and kidney-related issues while undergoing treatment.
It was her son, Ratheesh, who informed Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS) about the incident. "I was informed by the agent that my mother met with an accident.
At first he told me that it was just a minor incident. However, when we could not contact her even after a couple of weeks, we approached the LKS. My mother went to Malaysia on March 4 and the incident happened on March 8," said Ratheesh, who left for Malaysia on Monday to accompany his mother.
Ratheesh passed on the information to the LKS representatives in Malaysia. It was through the preliminary investigation by Atmesh Pachatt, an LKS member in Malaysia, that the shocking details about Bhargavan came to light, said LKS project coordinator Akhil C S.
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"We are yet to track the exact reason as Bhargavan is not able to talk. The employer did not inform the police about the incident. Hence, we approached the embassy," said Atmesh.
Further investigation revealed that Bhargavan was one of the 42 women, including her younger sister, who were trafficked to Malaysia on visiting visas under the false promise of work visas as domestic workers. It was also found that her sister and another woman were held captive in the agent's house.
They have now been moved to a special shelter under the embassy's leadership, said Atmesh.
The timely intervention of the Indian embassy's labour wing officials expedited actions against the employer and the agent. Due to the progress in Bhargavan's health condition, discussions between hospital authorities and embassy officials have paved the way for her to be brought home for further treatment.
The diplomatic intervention by the Indian embassy, which ensured that all expenses for bringing the victim home were borne by the employer under the strength of legal actions against human trafficking, resulted in an air ambulance being arranged for Bhargavan.
According to the schedule, she will be brought to Kochi on Thursday night in a special air ambulance of Malaysian Airlines. All arrangements have been made by NORKA at Ernakulam Medical College Hospital for further treatments. This is the first time a Malayali expatriate, a victim of human trafficking, is being brought home using an air ambulance.