Indian MP: A serious humanitarian concern has emerged involving Indian citizens allegedly trapped and exploited near the Myanmar–Thailand border. The issue was brought into the public domain after Asaduddin Owaisi, president of AIMIM and Member of parliament from Hyderabad, appealed for immediate diplomatic intervention. He urged S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, to take swift action to rescue at least 16 Indian nationals reportedly held under harsh conditions.
According to the information shared, these individuals were lured abroad with promises of legitimate employment opportunities in Thailand. Instead, they were allegedly trafficked to areas along the Myanmar–Thailand border, where organized criminal groups are known to operate illegal cyber fraud networks.
The appeal gained urgency after a distress message was received from one of the victims currently being held captive. The message described a grim reality in which Indian nationals are allegedly forced to work for extremely long hours each day under constant surveillance. Physical punishment, confiscation of passports, seizure of mobile phones, and denial of medical treatment were also reported.
Among the 16 affected individuals, three are said to be residents of Hyderabad. One of them, identified as a resident of Osman Nagar, managed to communicate details of their situation. Two others accompanying him reportedly belong to Maula Ali and Banjara Hills areas. These accounts highlight the vulnerability of job seekers who fall prey to international job scam rackets.
In his public statement, Owaisi called for urgent government-level intervention to ensure the safe return of all Indians stranded in the region. He emphasized that the matter involves human rights violations and requires immediate diplomatic coordination between India, Thailand, and Myanmar.
Such appeals underline the growing concern over transnational cybercrime syndicates that exploit foreign nationals by coercing them into illegal online activities. These networks often operate from border regions where law enforcement oversight is weak.
India has faced similar situations in the recent past and has undertaken large-scale rescue and repatriation operations. Last year alone, more than 1,500 Indian nationals were brought back from Thailand through special evacuation flights. Many of them were victims of organized cybercrime groups that promised high-paying overseas jobs.
In November of the previous year, 11 individuals from Telangana were among 270 Indian citizens repatriated after escaping cybercrime hubs. These victims had fled following a major military crackdown on illegal operations inside Myanmar.
In addition to central government efforts, state governments have also played a crucial role in supporting rescued citizens. A group of 55 people from Andhra Pradesh, primarily from Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, were among 370 Indians repatriated from Thailand after being freed from similar cybercrime facilities.
Due to the confiscation of phones and lack of financial resources, many returnees required immediate assistance upon arrival in India. The Andhra Pradesh government stepped in to provide logistical and financial support, ensuring that rescued individuals could safely return to their homes.
In total, the state government successfully assisted 79 people rescued from Myanmar-linked cybercrime networks. Earlier rescue operations also included 24 individuals from different regions of Andhra Pradesh, further highlighting the scale of the issue.
These repeated incidents reflect a growing trend of overseas employment fraud targeting Indian youth. Unscrupulous agents exploit aspirations for better livelihoods abroad, often using social media and informal networks to recruit victims.
Experts stress the importance of public awareness, stricter verification of foreign job offers, and stronger international cooperation to dismantle such criminal operations. As fresh cases continue to surface, timely intervention remains critical to saving lives and preventing further exploitation.
