The 23-year-old youth from Hyderabad was allegedly lured to Thailand with the promise of a well-paid job, only to be trafficked and forced to work at a cybercrime centre operating near the Thailand–Myanmar
border.
Mir Sajjad Ali, a resident of Kattal Guda in Hyderabad, travelled to Bangkok last November after being offered a role as a digital sales executive.
The offer promised work for eight to ten hours a day at a modern call centre, a monthly salary of nearly Rs 1 lakh, and access to luxury accommodation, including a villa with a swimming pool. However, within two weeks of his arrival, Mir found himself confined in a cramped and overcrowded house linked to an online scam operation, Indian Express reported.
Speaking to the publication, Mir’s cousin said he made a distress call on January 16, pleading for help. “He was confined with several others at a call centre that was scamming people, and when he and others refused, they were beaten and abused,” Sayed Ali told The Indian Express.
The case came to public attention after Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi shared details on social media, saying at least 16 Indian nationals, including three from Hyderabad, had been promised jobs in Thailand but were instead taken to the Myanmar–Thailand border and held captive. He said they were forced to work for 18 to 20 hours a day, physically punished, and deprived of their passports, phones and medical care.
Mir’s family said he had not informed his parents about the job offer and told them he was travelling on holiday.
His father works in Kuwait City, while his mother lives in Hyderabad. After reaching Bangkok, Mir told his mother that he had started working there and initially showed her his workplace during video calls. “For about eight days, Mir made video calls to show his workplace, which was good. He said that his employer was treating him well. Then, there was no call for nearly 15 days,” said his relative Mehdi Ali.
When Mir eventually contacted his family again, he sounded frightened and said he was being held near the Thailand–Myanmar border, based on his phone’s location. He later told them that his phone had been taken away and he was allowed to use it only briefly.
Speaking to PTI, Mir’s mother said her son travelled on a visit visa despite being promised a work visa. She said the interview was conducted on 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.
Two other Hyderabad youths, Sameer Khan from Moula Ali and Arshad from Banjara Hills, are also believed to be trapped. Owaisi has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene urgently to secure the release of all those held captive.
(With inputs from PTI)
