Is India Collaborating with Thailand to Repatriate Indians from Myanmar Scam Centers?
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Key Takeaways
Bangkok/New Delhi, Oct 29 (NationPress) India has announced its ongoing collaboration with Thai authorities to ensure the swift repatriation of Indian nationals who have been detained in Thailand after illegally crossing from Myanmar in recent days.
“We acknowledge the situation with Indian nationals detained by Thai officials. They entered Thailand from Myanmar recently. Our diplomatic mission in Thailand is actively coordinating with Thai authorities to confirm their nationality and facilitate their repatriation, pending the completion of necessary legal procedures,” stated Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while addressing media inquiries.
Earlier today, Nagesh Singh, India's Ambassador to Thailand, engaged in discussions with Pol. Lt. Gen. Panumas Boonyalug, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau under the Royal Thai Police, focusing on the immediate repatriation of Indians who have fled from scam operations located in Myawaddy, Myanmar to Mae Sot in Thailand.
Reports suggest that approximately 500 Indian citizens have escaped Myanmar, entering Thailand amid a deteriorating security situation in southeastern Myanmar.
The Indian government is making persistent efforts to secure the release and repatriation of its nationals who have been lured to various Southeast Asian nations, including Myanmar, through deceptive job offers.
These individuals have often found themselves involved in cybercrime and other fraudulent activities in scam centers situated along the Myanmar-Thailand border, as previously highlighted by the MEA.
A number of Indian nationals have previously been victims of Myawaddy scam facilities and were repatriated through the Mae Sot border region.
In April, during a meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Myanmar's cooperation in the rescue and repatriation efforts for Indian nationals from cyber-scam centers located near the Myanmar–Thailand border.
Both nations also agreed on the importance of collaborating to tackle insurgent activities, transnational crimes, and human trafficking along the India-Myanmar border.