In a significant relief for their families, nine residents of Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district, who were held captive in Kyrgyzstan for three months after falling prey to an international job scam, have safely returned to India. The men arrived home on Saturday, December 23, marking a partial success in a complex rescue operation. However, three of their companions remain stranded in the Central Asian nation, with authorities working to bring them back by December 30, the expiry date of their visas.
The Deceptive Promise and a Costly Scam
The ordeal began when a local recruitment agency owner lured 12 men from the Pilibhit area with promises of lucrative employment abroad. Each victim paid a hefty sum of ₹2.5 lakh to the agent, hoping for a better future. Instead, they were sent to Kyrgyzstan on short-term, 59-day visas accompanied by fake job contracts. The labourers hailed from villages under the Barkhera, Puranpur, Diyoria, and Gajraula police station areas of the district.
Upon arrival, their hopes were dashed. The promised jobs never materialized. Instead, the men were reportedly held hostage and forced into different work under duress. Their situation descended into a nightmare, with the workers alleging beatings and non-payment of wages. In desperation, they turned to social media, posting videos to plead for help from the Indian government and expose their plight.
A Viral Cry for Help Triggers Rescue Mission
The crisis gained national attention on December 5 after a video from one of the trapped workers, Rohit, went viral online. This digital SOS prompted their anxious families to formally approach the Pilibhit district administration, demanding immediate intervention for rescue and safe return.
The families further alleged that the men were being tortured and that the local recruitment agents in Kyrgyzstan were demanding an additional ₹2 lakh for each worker's safe return. The twelve identified victims are Ravi Kumar, Ajay, Chandrapal, Santram, Rohit, Ramesh, Harswaroop, Shyamacharan, Sanjeev, Prempal, Ramasare, and Harishankar, who were scattered across different cities in Kyrgyzstan.
The local administration, led by District Magistrate Gyanendra Singh, swiftly compiled a comprehensive report on the predicament of the 12 labourers and dispatched it to the state Home Department. Simultaneously, Union Minister and Pilibhit MP Jitin Prasada met with the victims' families in New Delhi and actively coordinated with the Indian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan to facilitate the return process.
Investigation Launched and Fight for Justice
On the legal front, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav has ordered a formal investigation into the large-scale fraud. The case has been assigned to the Circle Officer (City) to probe the role of the local recruitment agency and uncover the network behind the scam.
While the first group of nine workers—Ravi Kumar, Ajay, Chandrapal, Santram, Rohit, Ramesh, Harswaroop, Shyamacharan, and Sanjeev—have been reunited with their families, the wait continues for three others. Farmer leader Dev Swaroop Patel, who met the nine returnees in Bareilly on Saturday, informed that tickets are yet to be arranged for Harishankar (Jironia village), Ramasre (Bhuda Pipariya village), and Shyam Charan (Baiju Nagar village).
District Magistrate Gyanendra Singh assured that the return process for these final three workers is nearly finished. The victims, now back on home soil, are urging officials to take stringent action against the fraudulent recruiter and help them recover their hard-earned money. Their return highlights the perils of illegal overseas recruitment and the urgent need for stricter monitoring of agencies that exploit the dreams of India's youth.
