Around 125 Indian nationals repatriated from Thailand via Indian Air Force flights

The Indian Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate in Chiang Mai coordinated closely with Thai government agencies and officials in Tak Province to ensure the safe return of the stranded Indians. These individuals had reportedly been trapped in cyber-scam operations run from compounds in Myanmar, as per the IANS.

The Embassy has strongly advised Indian citizens to verify job offers abroad, check the background of recruiters, and avoid misusing visa-free entry into Thailand, which is permitted only for tourism and short business visits.

On Tuesday, 269 Indian nationals, including 11 women, were also repatriated from Mae Sot on two special IAF flights, following similar coordination between Indian and Thai authorities. Last week, another 197 Indians were flown back to India in the same manner.

The repatriation effort received direct attention from Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who visited Mae Sot to review operations. During a meeting with India’s Ambassador to Thailand, Nagesh Singh, he expressed appreciation for India’s swift efforts and assured continued support from Thai authorities in repatriating Indian nationals released from Myanmar’s scam centres, according to the IANS.

In an earlier operation, India had earlier this month repatriated 270 of its nationals from Thailand on two IAF transport aircraft, days after they fled to the Thai border town of Mae Sot from a notorious cyber scam centre in Myanmar following a government crackdown, reported the PTI.

Around 500 Indians were among 1,500 people from 28 countries who crossed into Thailand late last month after authorities raided KK Park, a major cybercrime hub in Myawaddy area of Myanmar.

The Indian Embassy in Bangkok said that the Thai government facilitated the return of the 270 Indians — including 26 women — from Mae Sot to India via two special IAF flights, according to the PTI.

The Indians had been detained by Thai authorities for violating immigration laws after entering the country illegally.

Further repatriation flights are expected on Friday to bring back the remaining stranded Indians.

The Indian embassies in Thailand and Myanmar are working with local authorities to secure the release and return of those still in Myanmar, many of whom are believed to have been involved — willingly or otherwise — in cyber scamming operations, as per the PTI.

The Indian mission has also cautioned citizens against falling prey to fraudulent overseas job offers, urging them to verify the credentials of employers and recruitment agents before accepting employment abroad.

The Indian mission reminded the travellers that visa-free entry into Thailand is strictly for tourism and short business trips, and must not be misused for employment purposes.

The two IAF aircraft are scheduled to land in New Delhi, with a brief stopover in the Andaman Islands. On arrival, the repatriated Indians will be questioned by authorities to understand how they were recruited and drawn into the scam network, the news agency reported.

Officials said some of those who fled were victims of human trafficking, while others had taken part in running the cybercrime operations.

According to a UN report, thousands of trafficked individuals from multiple countries have been coerced into online fraud across Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Malaysia, with such operations often linked to transnational criminal networks, as per the PTI.

(with IANS and PTI inputs)

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