From Job Promise to Cyber Slavery: Uttarakhand Men's Nightmare
Twenty-one men from Uttarakhand who were promised lucrative jobs in Thailand ended up as cyber slaves in Myanmar, leading to the arrest of a recruitment agent by the Uttarakhand Cybercrime Special Task Force. The arrested agent, Sunil Singh, allegedly recruited these men under false pretenses of providing employment in Southeast Asia.
The Deceptive Recruitment Process
According to police officials, the ordeal began when Sunil Singh approached families in his neighborhood with job offers in Thailand. One of the victims, Mohammad Azam, was contacted through his father with the promise of an office job in Thailand that would pay between Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 per month.
"As I had no source of employment, we were misled by Sunil's assurances," Azam stated in his complaint. His father borrowed money and paid Rs 70,000 in cash to Sunil for the job opportunity. Another local man, Junaid, also paid money for the same promised job.
On September 15, Sunil took both men to Delhi by car, from where they boarded a flight to Bangkok. Before their departure, Sunil gave them specific instructions to wait outside Bangkok airport where a man would identify them using their photos on his mobile phone.
From Thailand to Myanmar: The Harrowing Journey
The reality of their situation became clear upon arrival in Bangkok. As instructed, they waited outside the airport where an unidentified man picked them up in a car. Instead of taking them to a legitimate company, the driver transported them through forest routes to a river, where they were forced to board a boat.
After crossing the river, the men realized they had been smuggled into Myanmar against their will. They were taken to KK Park in Myanmar, where their passports were immediately confiscated and they were held captive.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Kush Mishra described their condition as "cyber slaves" who were forced to participate in cybercrime activities under duress. For over a month, the men worked as bonded laborers in cyber fraud operations.
The Dramatic Escape and Rescue
On October 22, Azam and several other captives managed to escape when an opportunity presented itself. They reached the Thailand border where they explained their situation to Army personnel. The military contacted the Indian Embassy, initiating a rescue operation.
On November 6, Azam and 20 other men from Uttarakhand were among more than 300 Indians who were safely brought back to India. Their return marked the end of a terrifying ordeal that lasted nearly two months.
When Azam's father contacted Sunil Singh about his son's predicament, the agent demanded Rs 4 lakh for his safe return. The agent also threatened to kill the victims when they demanded their money back after returning to India.
Police Investigation and Ongoing Efforts
The Uttarakhand police registered an FIR at Jaspur police station in Udham Singh Nagar based on Azam's complaint. During the investigation, police discovered that Sunil had been repeatedly sending people abroad for jobs using similar deceptive methods.
ASP Kush Mishra revealed that "We have arrested the man who was directly involved with the victims, and another name has cropped up of a woman who lives on the border. Her arrest will take us to the mastermind of this nexus."
Police investigations are also focusing on the foreign contacts of the identified agents in KK Park, Myanmar. An officer disclosed that an informant of Portuguese nationality has been providing crucial information about the international human trafficking network.
The case highlights the growing concern about Indian citizens being lured abroad with false job promises only to be forced into illegal activities. Authorities have warned job seekers to verify employment opportunities through proper channels before accepting overseas positions.
