Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Families of Hyderabad youths allegedly trapped along the Myanmar–Thailand border have made an urgent appeal to MEA and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying their sons were lured with fake job promises and are now being tortured and held against their will.The issue came into focus on Thursday after All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Owaisi posted on X, urging external affairs minister S Jaishankar to intervene in the case of at least 16 Indians allegedly enslaved near the Myanmar–Thailand border. According to Owaisi, three of them are from Hyderabad, from Osman Nagar, Moula Ali and Banjara Hills.Owaisi said all of them were promised jobs in Thailand but were instead taken to the border region and forced into labour. He urged the Centre to act urgently to ensure their safe return.Speaking to PTI on Friday, the mother of one such youth said her son travelled to Thailand on a visit visa after being promised a job that would later be converted into a work visa. She said the interview was conducted through a social media platform.“After reaching there, he was blindfolded and taken to a different city. He was not even aware where he was taken. He was tortured there and made to work for 18–20 hours,” she said. According to her, her son and others were denied food and rest, and were beaten when they asked to leave.She said she last spoke to her son 10 to 15 days ago, when he described his ordeal. His phone and personal belongings were taken away, and he was allowed to use a phone only once a week.The woman said she had approached Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi for help in rescuing her son, but expressed fear that he could face more harassment if his name appeared in the media.A relative of another Hyderabad youth also spoke about a similar situation and appealed for immediate intervention to secure his release.
A disturbing pattern
The concerns come amid earlier reports of similar cases from Telangana. Last week, six people from Armoor in Nizamabad district, including a young couple, were brought back to Hyderabad after being allegedly trafficked to Myawaddy in Myanmar, a known cybercrime hub.The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau registered a case after one of the victims complained that he was promised a data entry job in Thailand but was smuggled across the border and forced to work in online scam operations. The victims alleged their passports were seized, they were beaten for missing targets, and were asked to pay money to be released.Officials said 17 victims from Myanmar have returned to Telangana so far.
