It’s hard to escape a kidnapping after 30 years: from a little boy to a rescued man. Bhim Singh was just nine years old when he was kidnapped in 1993 while coming home from school in Noida. What started as a normal auto ride turned into a terrible nightmare. He was taken far away from his family, sold into bonded labour in Rajasthan, and forced to live as a slave for 30 years, completely cut off from the world.

This week, Bhim, who is now 39 years old, was finally reunited with his family. His return brought an end to 30 years of sadness and unanswered questions for his loved ones.

The day life changed forever

On September 8, 1993, Bhim was kidnapped while coming home from school in an auto with his sister. His family got a ransom demand for ₹7.4 lakh, but the kidnappers never contacted them again. Even though the police searched a lot, there was no sign of Bhim, and he seemed to have disappeared completely.

For many years, Bhim’s father, Tularam, and his family lived with uncertainty. They decided to stay in Ghaziabad instead of going back to their hometown in Dadri, hoping that Bhim might return someday. Tularam started a flour mill near their home in Shaheed Nagar, holding on to a small hope that his son would come back, even though it seemed unlikely.

30 years of abuse and imprisonment

Bhim was sold to a herder in Rajasthan by his kidnappers. He was forced to work as a bonded labourer for 30 years. He lived chained in a small shed, taking care of sheep and goats. Every day, he only got a piece of bread and some tea to eat. He slept on the ground with the animals and had no freedom or chance to escape.

Bhim clearly remembers how the auto driver betrayed him by handing him over to a truck driver. Later, he was sold to a man who kept him as a slave for 30 years. When Bhim was finally found, he was weak and showed the deep physical and emotional pain of the life he had endured as a slave.

Last week, a businessman visiting Jaisalmer saw Bhim, who looked weak and was tied to a tree at an animal farm in a remote village. Sensing something was wrong, the businessman decided to help. He rescued Bhim and collected any information Bhim could remember about where he came from. The businessman wrote a letter with these details and gave it to the Khoda police station in Ghaziabad.

Bhim could only remember small pieces of his past. He mentioned Noida, his father Tularam, and the year 1993. He also said he had parents and four sisters (he actually has three), but he couldn’t remember much about Ghaziabad. When the police checked their records, they found an old kidnapping case filed on September 8, 1993, at Sahibabad police station.

Three days later, they traced the family to Shaheed Nagar. Bhim’s parents and sisters couldn’t believe it when they were informed. They rushed to the police station, where they came face-to-face with a man they thought they’d lost forever.

Reunion after three decades

At Khoda police station, Bhim’s family had a hard time recognising him because he looked so weak and different. But there were clear signs it was him: a tattoo on his left arm that said "Raju," his childhood nickname, and a mole on his right leg.

“It was him,” said his emotional father, Tularam. The reunion was overwhelming for everyone. Bhim, who had lost all hope of freedom, was finally home with a family he had almost forgotten.