-
Ashoka’s ordeal began when he realized he was not given the promised role and sought help from NRIFK
-
His passport, visa, and documents had been confiscated, making it difficult for him to return to India.
The Karnataka Non-Resident Indian Forum (NRIFK) has stepped in to rescue Indians allegedly trapped in Cambodia, forced into cyber fraud activities by Chinese companies. Among those rescued is Ashoka from Magundi village in Chikkamagaluru, who had initially traveled to Cambodia with hopes of working as a data entry operator. However, upon arrival, he found himself coerced into hacking and cyber fraud under the employ of a Chinese company. Dr. Arathi Krishna, Deputy Chairman of NRIFK, highlighted the urgent need for intervention in such cases.
Ashoka’s ordeal began when he realized he was not given the promised role and sought help from NRIFK. His passport, visa, and documents had been confiscated, making it difficult for him to return to India. This incident raises concerns about gangs luring Indian job seekers with false promises, only to force them into completely different roles upon arrival. Ashoka’s revelation exposed over 500 fellow Indians, from Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, trapped in a similar web of deceit and exploitation.
In response to Ashoka’s family seeking assistance, Arathi contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Cambodia. This distressing situation sheds light on the increasing number of NRIs finding themselves trapped in illegal activities, enduring threats of physical and mental abuse.
Despite the government’s appeal for registration with NRIFK in January 2023, a significant number of NRIs are yet to register. The forum urges NRIs to register online to ensure their safety and support during unforeseen incidents. Currently, only 10-12 individuals have registered online, while 1,900 people have registered offline.
Lakshmamma P, a member-secretary of the forum, expressed disappointment over the low registration numbers, emphasizing the government’s appeal for registration. The NRIFK encourages NRIs to report grievances and concerns online through the Ministry of External Affairs’ consular services management system portal, “Madad.”
The rescue of Ashoka highlights the importance of prompt and coordinated efforts to protect the rights and well-being of Indian citizens overseas. Organizations like NRIFK are working diligently to address exploitation and illegal activities, ensuring stranded individuals receive the assistance they need to return home. The message is clear: registration is essential for safeguarding the rights and dignity of NRIs globally, and staying informed is key.
**********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com