Daijiworld Media Network

Mumbai, Apr 11: In a major operation, Maharashtra Cyber Police rescued 60 Indian nationals who were victims of 'cyber slavery' in Myanmar, where they were tortured and forced to carry out cyber frauds. Five individuals, including a foreign national, have been arrested in connection with the case, officials said on Friday.

The victims were lured with false promises of high-paying jobs in Thailand, but were trafficked to Myanmar and handed over to armed rebel groups. Their passports were seized and they were tortured into running large-scale online scams such as ‘digital arrest’ frauds and fake investment schemes.

“This is one of the biggest actions taken by Maharashtra Cyber with the help of the external affairs and home ministries,” said ADGP Yashasvi Yadav. He added that the victims were beaten, their nails pulled out, and even threatened with organ removal if they resisted.

Among the arrested are Manish Grey alias Maddy, a known TV actor, and Chinese-Kazakhstani national Talaniti Nulaxi, who was allegedly planning to expand cyber crime operations to India. The accused posed as employment agents and recruited victims via social media.

One of the victims, Satish, said they were “sold for $5,000 each” and threatened at gunpoint to commit online fraud. Another, Monukumar Sharma, revealed they were paid wages in Thai Bahts, but arbitrary fines would leave them with little to nothing.

FIRs have been registered, and investigations are ongoing to dismantle the broader trafficking network.