SSP Tahir Ashraf of Counter Intelligence Kashmir with his team handed over them to their families on 13th of March this year.
In the early hours of a cold winter morning, thirteen families across Jammu and Kashmir received the phone calls they had been desperately waiting for. Their children, young men who had been trapped in Myanmar under perilous circumstances, were coming home. This wasn’t just good news, it was a proud moment for all of us, return of thirteen young individuals to their families was just a meticulous job by Senior Superintendent of Police Tahir Ashraf and his dedicated team at Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK).”
The operation, which unfolded over several weeks, exemplifies the quiet heroism and unwavering commitment of MOEA, GOI and Indian Embassy in Myanmar, who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often without public recognition. This is the story of how determination, strategic planning and human compassion came together to bring thirteen young people safely back to their families.
The situation first came to light when frantic parents began approaching local police stations with similar stories. Their children, mostly young men in their early twenties, had left home after being promised lucrative IT jobs in Thailand. They had paid substantial sums between ₹4-6 lakhs each to recruitment agents who had assured them of high-paying positions in Bangkok’s booming tech industry.
However, after reaching Thailand, these young men were transported across the border into Myanmar. There, they discovered the horrifying truth, they had been trafficked to work in cyber scam operations run by criminal syndicates in Myanmar’s notorious Special Economic Zones, particularly in areas like Myawaddy near the Thai border.
The first call received from a father in Srinagar, He was in tears, saying his son had called him secretly, asking for help. The boy said he was being held against his will and forced to work more than 16 hours a day running online scams.
Within days, similar reports began flooding in from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The pattern was unmistakable, young educated individuals from middle-class families had been systematically targeted by trafficking networks operating across international borders.
Myanmar’s border regions, particularly those controlled by armed groups rather than the central government, have become infamous for large-scale cyber scam operations. These criminal enterprises lure educated young people from across Asia with promises of legitimate employment, only to confiscate their passports upon arrival and force them to work in what amount to digital sweatshops.
The victims are typically held in heavily guarded compounds where they are forced to perpetrate various forms of online frauds, from romance scams to fake investment schemes, targeting victims primarily in Western countries. Those who resist or fail to meet quotas face physical abuse, starvation or worse.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that thousands of people across Southeast Asia have been trafficked into these cyber scam operations, with the number growing each year. The profits are enormous, a single compound can generate millions of dollars monthly through these criminal activities.
For the thirteen young men from Jammu and Kashmir, this nightmare had become their reality. They were confined to a compound in Myanmar’s Myawaddy area, forced to work round the clock, with limited food and under constant threat to life.
For officials looking after the case in MOEA – GOI getting in touch with victims was very difficult as the traffickers strictly controlled all communication devices. However, through family members, the team managed to establish sporadic contact with some of the trapped individuals, who provided crucial information about their location and circumstances.
“What makes these operations so difficult to combat is their international nature,” explains a senior officer. “The moment victims cross international borders, the complexity increases exponentially.”
Rescuing citizens from a foreign country, especially from an area not fully controlled by that country’s government requires delicate diplomatic engagement. India’s Ministry of External Affairs to initiate formal diplomatic requests for assistance.
The Indian Embassy in Myanmar was brought into the loop and diplomatic channels were activated to seek cooperation from Thai authorities as well, since any rescue operation would likely require transit through Thailand.
International cooperation is essential in such cases, foreign ministry officials involved in the process navigated complex diplomatic relationships while maintaining the urgency the situation demanded.
“The priority was always the safety of the victims,” emphasises a CIK officer involved in handing over the victims to their families. “Every decision was made with that as the primary consideration.”
Simultaneously, diplomatic pressure reached a critical point, with formal requests for assistance from the Indian government receiving positive responses from authorities in both Thailand and Myanmar.
It was like watching pieces of a complex puzzle finally coming together, Suddenly, there was movement where before there had been only obstacles.
Once in Thailand, representatives from the Indian Embassy met the group and provided emergency travel documents. Within hours, all thirteen were on flights back to India.
“When we received confirmation that they had boarded their flights home, there was a moment of collective relief in the operation room,” says an officer. “But we knew our job was not done until they were safely handed over to their families.”
The return of the thirteen young men to Jammu and Kashmir was deliberately kept low-key to protect their privacy and dignity. SSP Tahir Ashraf personally supervised their arrival and took them to their families.
For the families, the moment was overwhelming. Parents who had spent months in agony, not knowing if they would ever see their children again, were finally able to embrace them.
“I will never forget the look on the parents’ faces,” shares a police officer of CIK who witnessed the reunions. “There are some moments in this job that remind you why you do it and that was definitely one of them.”
Beyond the operational success, the human impact of this rescue cannot be overstated. Thirteen young lives were saved from exploitation and potential long-term trauma. Families were spared the continuing anguish of having loved ones in danger thousands of miles away.
Many of the rescued individuals have chosen to remain anonymous, preferring to rebuild their lives quietly. However, some have shared their experiences to help warn others about the dangers of such job offers.
“They promised me ₹1.5 lakh per month for simple computer work,” recounts one of the rescued men, requesting anonymity. “By the time I realised it was a trap, my passport was gone, and I was told I had to work to repay my ‘debt’ for transportation and accommodation.”
Another describes the conditions in the compound: “We worked in shifts round the clock in a large room with hundreds of computers. Anyone who didn’t meet their quota was beaten. We slept on the floor and were given only one meal a day sometimes.”
The psychological impact on the victims has been significant. Many continue to receive counseling to help them process their experiences and reintegrate into society.
The successful rescue operation highlighted several important lessons about combating human trafficking in the digital age,
1. The growing nexus between cybercrime and human trafficking and exploitation of the cyber platforms especially social media requires specialised law enforcement approaches.
2. International cooperation is essential for addressing transnational trafficking networks.
3. Proactive intelligence gathering and patient strategy development are crucial for successful rescues.
4. Support systems for victims must extend beyond the physical rescue to include psychological and social rehabilitation.
Despite this success, the challenge remains enormous. The criminal networks behind these operations are well-funded, adaptable and operate across multiple jurisdictions. For every compound that is exposed, others emerge in different locations.
This rescue was significant, but it’s just one small victory in a much larger battle.
“What distinguished SSP Tahir Ashraf’s approach was his ability to remain calm under immense pressure,” observes a colleague. “He never lost sight of the human element, that there were thirteen families counting on us to bring their children home.”
In the aftermath of the rescue, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have intensified efforts to prevent similar cases. These include.
1. Awareness campaigns about fraudulent job offers floating on different Internet platforms especially social media, particularly those promising high salaries abroad with minimal qualifications
2. Establishment of verification mechanisms for international job recruiters.
3. Coordination with emigration authorities to identify potential trafficking victims before they leave the country.
4. Creation of a specialized cyber patrol unit to monitor and flag suspicious job advertisements and their place/country of origin.
Schools and colleges across the region now include awareness sessions about trafficking risks and one should verify keenly about the international job offers before accepting them.
SSP CIK stressed that “We need to broad-base our awareness campaigns, especially at school and college levels. It is essential to sensitise the youth, especially those who are educated and looking for jobs, about such traps. Desperation of unemployed youth looking for jobs online, can make them potential target of such scammers. Parents are also advised to be watchful about the activities of their children looking for online jobs”, he added.
The case of these thirteen young men is not isolated. According to the United Nations, human trafficking for forced criminality, including cyber scams, one of the fastest-growing forms of human trafficking globally and a new form of bonded labour in modern times.
The International Labour Organisation estimates that over 50 million people worldwide are in situations of modern slavery, with forced labor accounting for a significant portion of this number.
In South and Southeast Asia particularly, the problem has reached crisis proportions. Countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia have become hotspots for cyber scam operations using trafficked labor.
“What we are seeing is an evolution of exploitation,” explains a human rights expert. “Criminal organisations have recognised that educated young people with digital skills can be exploited for significant profit in these scam operations.”
The rescue of thirteen young men from Myanmar represents more than just a successful operation, it embodies the highest ideals of public service and duty of Jammu and Kashmir Police in general and CI-Kashmir in particular.
For thirteen families in Jammu and Kashmir, this quiet heroism transformed their lives, turning despair into hope and bringing their children safely home. Behind the headlines and statistics about human trafficking are real human stories, both of those who suffer and those who work tirelessly to help them.
In the words of one grateful parent: “They didn’t just rescue my son; they rescued our entire family from a nightmare we thought would never end. How do you thank someone for that?”
Perhaps the answer lies in recognition, not just of this specific operation, but of the daily dedication of officers like SSP Tahir Ashraf and his team at Counter Intelligence Kashmir, who embody the true meaning of public service through their true commitment to those they protect.
In the quiet heroism of everyday duty, they accomplish what matters most at CIK.
ZAMAN NOOR
Writer is an Independent Public Opinion Analyst, Research Columnist and Actively Engaged In Peace Activism.
Can be reached at [email protected]
