Indian Man Rescued from Cyber Slavery in Cambodia: How International Cooperation Secured His Freedom

Cyber slavery involves trafficking individuals who are often deceived with fraudulent employment opportunities (Representational)

Baghpat:

A resident of Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat who was allegedly held captive by a cyber-fraud syndicate in Cambodia has successfully been rescued and returned to India, police announced on Saturday.

Police stated that Vikas Rana from Ghenaura Silver Nagar village had traveled to Cambodia seeking employment but was subsequently illegally confined and coerced into participating in cyber-fraud operations.

According to the police statement, Rana's spouse, Dolly, submitted a complaint indicating that her husband was forcibly taken and compelled to work for the criminal syndicate.

In response to the complaint, the Additional Director General of Police (Meerut Zone) and Deputy Inspector General (Meerut Range) instructed the Baghpat cyber cell to launch an investigation.

Initial inquiries confirmed that Rana was being held by a criminal organization that specializes in enticing young people abroad with false job promises before forcing them into cyber-fraud activities, police reported.

Following this discovery, Baghpat police established ongoing communication with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, as well as with the Indian Embassy in Cambodia.

The statement revealed that through persistent coordination efforts, Cambodian authorities assisted in rescuing Rana from the alleged "slavery center."

According to official information, Rana has now been repatriated to India.

Cyber slavery describes the trafficking of individuals, typically lured overseas with deceptive job offers, who are then forced to operate online fraud schemes. This practice has developed into an organized criminal network in countries such as Cambodia.