Punjab man trafficked to Myanmar on pretext of job in Thailand, rescued by Thai army

A Moga resident was allegedly trafficked to Myanmar under the pretext of employment in Thailand and later rescued by the Thailand army, police said on Thursday.

The victim, Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Suraj Nagar, Moga, claimed that he was promised a monthly salary of Rs 65,000 to Rs 70,000 for a job in Thailand.

Acting on the offer, Kumar left India on August 8, 2025, from Amritsar International Airport and reached Bangkok. However, instead of being provided legitimate employment, he was allegedly taken by agents through forest routes and forcibly trafficked into Myanmar.

After reaching Myanmar, Kumar alleged that he was compelled to work against his will. When he expressed his unwillingness to continue, the accused, Glory Masih, a resident of Partap Pura in Jalandhar, allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh for sending him back to India. Fearing physical harm, Kumar was forced to continue working.

During his captivity, he was reportedly made to use an application service to chat online with Asian-origin individuals residing in the United States, indicating coerced involvement in cyber fraud activities.

The Thailand army later rescued Kumar during a crackdown and facilitated his safe return to India, after which he lodged a complaint at the Moga Cyber Crime Police Station.

A case has been registered under Sections 143(1), 143(2), 146, and 318(4) of the BNS against the accused.

Officials said further investigation is underway, with efforts being made to arrest the accused, trace the trafficking network, and ascertain the financial and cybercrime links involved in the case.