Police launch investigation, as three Belagavi youths escape from cyber slavery in Cambodia

Relatives of three youths from Belagavi have complained to the police that some people from the city are engaged in illegal activities like trafficking in human beings and cyber slavery.

The youths escaped from Cambodia with help from the Belagavi Police, the CBI and the law enforcement authorities in Cambodia.

Family members of Akash Kaganikar, Omkar Lokhande and Sanskar Lokhande complained to the city Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) offence wing that they were cheated by 40-year-old Prasanna Hundre, Asif Alwan and Amit, all from Belagavi.

They promised to help them get data entry jobs in Singapore with a salary of ₹1 lakh per month. But they were taken to a private company in Cambodia. The employers there, forced them to engage in cybercrime, including cheating innocent victims, and collected money from them ranging from ₹95,000 to ₹2.5 lakh.

The case registered around two weeks ago has come to light now.

CEN Inspector J.M. Kalimirchi, who registered the case, informed Police Commissioner Borase Bhushan Gulabrao who then contacted some CBI officers and the Indian Embassy in Cambodia.

They tipped off the Cambodian law enforcement authorities who helped the three young men escape from the clutches of their employers.

They also helped them get back documents, including their passports. The youth used their savings to buy air tickets. After their return, they told the city police that there were several Indian youths similarly enslaved by the company in Cambodia.

“We are investigating the case from all angles,” the Police Commissioner said.