27 AP, Telangana Youth Trafficked to Myanmar Return Home

Visakhapatnam: Twenty-seven youth from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who had been trafficked to Myanmar under false job promises, have been safely repatriated to India.

These persons had travelled to Myanmar several months ago expecting legitimate employment opportunities. Instead, they found themselves trapped in a cybercrime racket, where they had to participate in scams. On refusal, they had to go through physical abuse and other hardships.

According to a press release issued by union minister Rammohan Naidu’s office, the stranded individuals sent a video message directly to Union aviation minister Rammohan Naidu detailing their ordeal and seeking help.

Moved by their plight, the Union minister immediately wrote to External Affairs minister S. Jaishankar, emphasising the urgent need to bring the 27 Indians home safely. The ministry and the Indian Embassy in Yangon responded swiftly to the appeal.

On Sunday morning, the rescued individuals arrived in New Delhi. They expressed their thanks to Rammohan Naidu for securing their return to India.

The rescued victims hail from Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Annamayya, Hyderabad, and Jagitial districts. They include Ramu Gunnugelli, Sai Kumar Kanakavala, Ajay Dubba, Jagadish Sahu, Brahmaji Alugolu, and 22 others. Travel arrangements have been made for their journeys from Delhi to their respective hometowns.

The Union minister reaffirmed the coalition government's commitment to protecting Indian citizens. "The government is always dedicated to safeguarding the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Indian citizen and providing support to those in distress," he stated.

16 people from Telangana rescued from Myanmar

Hyderabad: Around 16 persons from Telangana, who were trapped at a call centre in Myanmar, were rescued and brought back home on Friday. One of the victims from the state was initially duped through a matrimony/investment fraud but was later sent to Myanmar on the pretext of a fake job opportunity.

In a post on platform X on Thursday, the Indian Embassy in Bangkok said that around 228 Indians, who were entrapped in the scam centres in Myawaddy in Myanmar, were repatriated through Mae Sot by a special flight operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Of the 16 rescued from Telangana, seven including a couple were hailing from Nizamabad, two from Hyderabad and the rest from various parts of state including Jagtial and Suryapet.

Officials from the Telangana Cybersecurity Bureau (TGCSB) told the Deccan Chronicle that the exact duration under which the scam was orchestrated is not known yet.

Police said the modus operandi involved luring victims through advertisements and middlemen into applying for jobs overseas and were taken to Myanmar. After reaching, the victims’ passports were seized and they were forced into committing cyberfrauds in India.

However, in one such case, the scam started through matrimony and investment fraud but ended up in cyberslavery. A victim from Nizamabad was contacted by a scamster through a matrimonial site, who soon won his trust and lured him into investing in the stock market. The victim was later informed that he had undergone losses and that the scamster could help them in getting a data entry job to recover the losses.

“The scamster connected the victim to an agent, who had taken care of the victim’s travel to Myanmar,” an investigator said.

So far, one case has been registered at the Nizamabad Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS), where two agents have been identified. Police are in the process of arresting the accused. More complaints are yet to come from victims.

Available complaints from victims detailed constant verbal abuse and pay cuts. “They were made to sign several contracts documented in English and Chinese, which authorised them to make pay cuts among other things on starting work late, or not meeting regular targets. On the whole, victims have reported an agonising experience,” the investigator said.

In the past, victims of cyberslavery had reported physical abuse by scamsters at call centres. Roughly 80-100 victims from Telangana were rescued from scam centres in Myanmar and Cambodia in 2025.