The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including the alleged mastermind, in a case involving the trafficking and cyber slavery of Indian youths in Cambodia, highlighting the ongoing fight against international human trafficking networks.
Key Points
- NIA chargesheets five individuals in connection with trafficking and cyber slavery of Indian youths to Cambodia.
- Anand Kumar Singh, the alleged kingpin, is accused of recruiting youths through agents and trafficking them to Cambodia.
- Victims were lured with job promises, then forced into cyber slavery and subjected to torture.
- The accused charged USD 2,000-3,000 per youth 'sold' to fake companies in Cambodia.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted five persons, including the alleged mastermind, in a case related to trafficking and cyber slavery of Indian youths in Cambodia, officials said on Saturday.
Human Trafficking Syndicate Mastermind
The alleged kingpin of the human trafficking syndicate -- Anand Kumar Singh alias Munna Singh, who is absconding -- along with four co-accused, have been named in the chargesheet filed before the NIA special court in Bihar's Patna on Friday, they said.
The NIA investigation has found Anand to be the kingpin, involved in recruitment of youth through various sub-agents/travel agents in India.
He was working with associates in Cambodia to illegally traffic the victims to that country, an NIA statement issued here on Saturday said.
Anand was charging USD 2,000-3,000 for each youth 'sold' to a fake company, it said.
Victims Lured with False Promises
The accused were involved in luring Indian youths to Cambodia on the pretext of legitimate jobs and handsome salaries, as part of an organised human trafficking syndicate.
Upon their arrival in Cambodia, the victims' passports were seized and they were forced to work for "scam companies", and any resistance on their part was met with mental and physical torture, including electric shocks, forceful confinement, denial of food and water etc, the NIA said.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
Three of the chargesheeted co-accused -- Abhay Nath Dubey and Rohit Yadav, both residents of Uttar Pradesh, and Abhiranjan Kumar, a resident of Bihar -- were arrested in February this year on their arrival in the national capital from Cambodia.
The fifth, identified as Prahlad Kumar Singh, is out on bail.
Investigation to trace other members of the syndicate and unravel the complete conspiracy in the case is continuing, the statement said.
