A 24-year-old graphic designer from Maharashtra's Beed district, held captive in Myanmar and forced to work in cyber fraud operations, has informed his family that approximately 800 Indians are enduring similar ordeals, and those who refuse to comply are subjected to electric shocks by their captors, police reported on Friday.
Victim's Desperate Call to Wife
During his captivity, the man managed to make a fervent WhatsApp call to his wife, detailing the horrific conditions and pleading for urgent help. He told her that hostages who resist are brutally tortured with electric shocks and forced to work 16 to 18 hours daily. He also revealed that two to three captives who confronted their tormentors were tortured to death.
The victim's wife subsequently lodged a complaint with the police, who informed the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) of the situation. Beed cyber police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified agents and individuals, launching an investigation.
International Investigation Underway
Inspector Nilesh Kele of Beed cyber police stated, "Since it is an international matter, the MEA has been informed. Investigation is being conducted under the guidance of senior authorities. Other central investigative agencies are also working with the police."
The victim, a resident of Nandurghat in Kaij tehsil, fell prey to an online advertisement on a social media platform offering a graphic designing and data entry job in Bangkok. Enticed by a promised salary of Rs 70,000, he contacted the provided WhatsApp number. Believing the offer to be genuine, he boarded a flight from Pune to Bangkok on June 4.
Trafficking to Torture Camp
Upon landing in Bangkok, he was kidnapped and trafficked to an undisclosed torture camp on the Thailand-Myanmar border. His essential travel documents, including his passport, were confiscated. According to police, the victim shared that 700 to 800 Indian youths, including 20 to 25 from Maharashtra, are currently held hostage in these camps in Myanmar.
Former state minister Dhananjay Munde, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA from Parli Vaijnath constituency in Beed district, has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding immediate government intervention for the safe return of those trapped in Myanmar.
