HYDERABAD: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has intensified diplomatic efforts with Myanmar‘s military junta and other stakeholders to secure the release of at least 500 more Indians trapped in cyber crime centres in Myawaddy, a region controlled by the Border Guard Force (BGF).
This follows the recent repatriation of around 540 Indians, coordinated by the Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand.
Many of the victims were lured into these centres under false pretences, primarily with the promise of data entry jobs. Upon arrival, they were forced to engage in cyber fraud activities targeting individuals across different countries.
Only those willing to be relocated and actively seeking help through embassies or media channels are being identified and rescued with the cooperation of the BGF, which operates independently despite supporting the Myanmar military junta.
540 Indians already returned, more await rescue
As part of the recent evacuation efforts, 540 Indians, including 24 from Telangana and 18 from Andhra Pradesh, were airlifted by the Indian Air Force‘s C-17 aircraft from Mae Sot in Thailand to Ghaziabad. From there, they were handed over to their respective state govts for further assistance.
MEA sources estimate that nearly 2,000 Indians are currently held in these cyber crime centres. The latest initiative aims to bring back 500 more, but the process remains complex due to the region’s lawlessness and the independent nature of the BGF’s control over Myawaddy. The militia group has allowed only those seeking assistance to leave, while many Indians reportedly continue working in these centres willingly and have declined to be repatriated.
Challenges in evacuating victims
Myawaddy has become a centre for large-scale online fraud, where individuals trapped in these cyber scam operations are forced to target victims globally, including India, in the name of investments and digital arrests. Many are unable to leave unless they pay hefty ransoms. The Indian govt, in coordination with international agencies, continues to push for broader intervention.
Officials caution that while diplomatic channels have yielded results, the full extent of the cyber crime network remains unknown. MEA has issued an advisory for job seekers not to fall into traps. Apart from Myanmar, cyber crime centres are also run in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
