Authorities in India are working urgently to secure the rescue and safe return of a 26‑year‑old engineer from Jharkhand, who has reportedly been held hostage by cyber‑fraud operators in Myanmar. According to officials from the State Migrant Control Room, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar is actively coordinating with local authorities to ensure his safe repatriation.

The young man, Mohammed Shahzeb Rahman, hails from Azadnagar in Dhanbad district and had been working at an IT firm in Bengaluru before falling into a trafficked cyber‑crime trap. His mother, Nishat Afroz, lodged a formal complaint with the Jharkhand Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on November 12, reporting that her son is being tortured and extorted for money by operators of a cyber‑fraud syndicate in the conflict‑ridden Myawaddy region of Myanmar.

A Terrifying Ordeal

As per Afroz’s account, her son left India in December 2024 after being lured by promises of a lucrative job abroad. His communication became restricted soon after he left the country. He later contacted his mother through a new WhatsApp number, but could not reveal where he was being kept.

On October 9, the situation became clearer and more alarming when Shahzeb managed to send a message via Telegram. He revealed that he was being held hostage and abused by unknown individuals operating in Myawaddy—a hub for criminal syndicates involved in cyber‑trafficking networks notorious across Southeast Asia.

The kidnappers allegedly demanded a ransom of ₹2.20 lakh for his release. Desperate to save her son, Afroz says the family has already transferred over ₹4.4 lakh, yet the captors continue to demand more money, even threatening to kill Shahzeb and sell his organs if the payments stop.

Challenges in Securing Rescue

State Migrant Control Room team lead Shikha Lakra confirmed that after receiving the complaint, they immediately contacted the Protector of Emigrants in Ranchi and the Indian Embassy in Myanmar.

However, the rescue efforts face a daunting challenge. Myawaddy—located near the Thailand border—is in an area outside the effective control of Myanmar’s official administration. Militias and crime networks dominate the region, making any operation risky and complicated.

Adding another layer of concern, Shahzeb’s mother reported on Monday that he has been moved to Yatai New City, another hub linked to illegal cyber‑fraud compounds. Officials have communicated this new information to the embassy to help expedite efforts.

A Mother’s Desperate Plea

For Afroz, who has already endured personal hardships, the uncertainty has been unbearable.

“My husband left long ago. Shahzeb is my only child. He took care of me, worked any job he could find, and supported my medicines. If something happens to him, I have no one left in this world,” she told PTI.

Her words reflect the emotional toll thousands of Indian families face as trafficking scams continue to target unemployed or aspiring youth with promises of glamorous jobs overseas—only to be forced into illegal cyber activities under conditions of modern‑day slavery.

A Growing Menace

Cases like Shahzeb’s are part of a worsening crisis in Southeast Asia, where criminal networks traffick job seekers from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other countries into dangerous cyber‑fraud operations. Victims are often confined, beaten, and forced to run online scams under threat of violence.

Indian authorities have recently increased collaboration with foreign governments to rescue those trapped, but the scale of the network and the lawlessness in areas like Myawaddy remain grave obstacles.

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