Over 2,400 Indians repatriated from Myanmar cyber scam compounds, 150 still trapped: MEA
New Delhi, June 1
The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that a total of 2,411 Indian nationals who were stuck in cyber scam compounds in Myanmar have been repatriated over the last one and a half years, while over 150 Indians are still believed to be trapped there.
Addressing a special briefing on the visit of Myanmar's President to India, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India has been working closely with Myanmar on the issue and continues efforts to bring back those still stranded.
"Over the course of the last year and a half, we have been able to repatriate over 2,400 Indian citizens from cyber scam compounds in Myanmar, especially in the bordering regions of Southeast Myanmar. As of now, from the latest counts, we have slightly over 150-odd Indian citizens that we know of who are still stuck in some of these cyber scam compounds. So 2,411 people have been repatriated," Misri said.
He said India remains in touch with the Myanmar government to secure the return of the remaining citizens and also underlined that many Indian nationals are trafficked to these scam compounds through third countries, highlighting the need for broader regional coordination.
"It underlines the need for not just more bilateral cooperation related to this issue, which is also a security issue between the two countries, but also the need for greater regional cooperation on this matter," he said.
The briefing comes after the high-level bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing at the Hyderabad House in the national capital, with Misri noting that the issue was raised during the discussions today, along with several bilateral engagements between India and Myanmar in the past.
KK Park, located in Myanmar's Myawaddy region, is well known among global law enforcement agencies for running large-scale online fraud operations. Reports suggest the compound and nearby facilities are controlled by Chinese criminal syndicates and supported by local armed groups allied with Myanmar's military.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The fact that these people are being trafficked through third countries shows how deep the problem is. India needs to work with Thailand and Laos too. My cousin almost fell for a job offer in Bangkok that turned out to be a scam. Awareness is key!
Why are our youth so desperate that they fall for these scams? The root cause is unemployment and lack of skill development in India. Instead of just rescuing, we need to create opportunities so people don't look for shady jobs abroad.
I'm an American living in Delhi and this is heartbreaking. These criminal syndicates operate with impunity in Myanmar. Glad to see India taking a diplomatic approach, but hope more pressure is put on Myanmar's military to crack down on these compounds.
My nephew was rescued from KK Park last year. These compounds are like prisons - you can't leave, they beat you if you don't meet targets. The psychological trauma is immense. India should also provide counselling and rehabilitation for these survivors.
The government should publicize these cases more widely. Many young graduates from my village are still going to Southeast Asia without verifying job offers. Free counseling and awareness campaigns in local languages could save lives. Well done MEA, but more needs to be done.
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