Nagaland Police seek information on locals missing in Southeast Asia

DIMAPUR — Nagaland Police have issued an urgent advisory, following reports that 33 individuals from the state are among thousands of Indians feared trapped in forced cybercrime operations in Southeast Asian countries.

The advisory comes after the Bureau of Immigration under the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs directed states and union territories to carry out investigations on individuals who had travelled to the region but have not returned, amid allegations that some of these individuals have been trapped in “cyber slavery” rackets.

Citing media reports, the police stated that a large number of Indians, including 33 from Nagaland, were reportedly “lured into Southeast Asian countries by promising of high paying jobs. However, it stated that those lured are only “trapped” in what has been described as “Cyber Slavery”.

The police urged families who have lost contact with relatives who had travelled to these countries to come forward. A dedicated helpline has been set up to provide assistance, it informed.

According to a report published by a local newspaper on September 30, the Bureau of Immigration revealed a concerning statistic: out of 73,138 Indians who travelled to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam between January 2022 and May 2024, almost 30,000 have not returned.

The report further highlighted that these individuals, often lured by promises of high-paying jobs, are coerced into conducting cyber fraud and other illegal activities under threats of violence.

Their passports are often confiscated, leaving them trapped and vulnerable. The report also provided a state-wise breakdown of those missing, with Punjab topping the list at 29,466 individuals. Other Northeastern states have also reported missing persons, including 38 from Manipur, 92 from Assam, 20 from Sikkim, 18 from Meghalaya, 14 from Mizoram, 12 from Tripura and 6 from Arunachal Pradesh.

A significant number of those missing are young people, with over half of those who had travelled between January 2022 and May 2024 falling within the 20-39 age-group, it said.

BOX:

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