Bhim Singh, from India, was kidnapped and kept away from his family for three decades. He has finally been reunited with them thanks to the help of a kind stranger and social media
The family of a kidnapped child have finally been reunited with him 31 years later following a successful social media appeal.
Bhim Singh was snatched from his loved ones at the mere age of nine in Praadesh, India. He was on his way home from school when he was taken by an evil gang who sold him to a herder.
The scared schoolboy was forced into bonded labour and taken to the city of Jaisalmer. Sadly, for 30 years, he spent his life living in shackles and being made to rear sheep and goats, whilst being kept on a minimal diet.
A ransom of £7,000 (7.3 lakh rupees) had been demanded by the kidnappers before they decided to stop contacting his family. Bhim was found by cops and then his family was traced.
His relatives only recognised him because of a mole on his right leg and a tattoo on his left arm. According to Bhim, a compassionate individual eventually intervened and took him to Ghaziabad.
With the assistance of police he was able to locate his family and was reunited with them after three decades. He revealed the traumatic experience of being taken away with his sister and forced into a life of servitude in a distant village.
Despite the challenges he faced Bhim expressed gratitude for the support he received from law enforcement and the community.
Ass Ch Sahibabad Rajneesh Kumar Upadhyay noted that he initially struggled to provide his address at the police station prompting authorities to launch a search for his family.
After a social media appeal, a family eventually came forward and was identified by Singh as his own leading to a heartfelt reunion that brought closure to a decades-long separation. “Bhim Singh arrived at the police station unsure of his place of origin,” he said.
“Upon learning of his situation, our team quickly mobilised and shared information about Bhim Singh on social media. This led to numerous relatives reaching out to us including the family of Tula Ram. Bhim Singh was able to recognize his relatives immediately and they have since been reunited.”
The case is still being investigated according to police.