What was projected as an opportunity for overseas employment turned into a harrowing ordeal for two youths from Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The two were allegedly trafficked to Myanmar on the pretext of better jobs and were forcibly made to engage in cyber fraud operations. After managing to escape and return to India with the help of an NGO and the Indian embassy, the state cyber crime police have registered a case against two accused and initiated an investigation.
According to the police, the case is linked to a well-organised human trafficking and international cyber fraud network, which uses job offers as a front to send young people abroad and compel them to participate in digital crimes.
The matter came to light after Yashpal Bisht, a resident of Chinyalisaur, lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station. In his complaint, Yashpal stated that he and another youth were lured with promises of jobs abroad, taken out of the country through illegal routes, and later forced to carry out online fraud using fake social media accounts.
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As per the complaint, Yashpal’s family had been facing financial difficulties for a long time. In June 2025, he met an acquaintance, Kanhaiya Biljwan, who told him that his uncle, Keshav Biljwan, a resident of Delhi, could help arrange jobs overseas. Yashpal later contacted Keshav via WhatsApp. Keshav asked about his passport and assured him that employment abroad could be arranged quickly.
To build credibility, Keshav subsequently shared a Zoom link, claiming that the interview would be conducted online. When Yashpal joined the call, three people were present—Keshav and two foreign nationals—who interviewed him in English. This convinced Yashpal that the job offer was genuine. A few days later, Keshav informed him that the job had been finalised and instructed him to travel from Delhi to Bangkok on June 26, 2025.
On June 25, Yashpal reached Delhi along with his friend Manish Panwar and Kanhaiya. There, Keshav allegedly demanded ₹13,000 from each of them towards flight tickets. The next day, he dropped Yashpal and Manish at the airport and introduced them to a man identified as Shivam, stating that he would handle all arrangements after their arrival in Bangkok.
After landing in Bangkok, a person sent by Shivam received them and took them to Mae Sot, where they were put up in a hotel for the night. Feeling uneasy about the situation, Yashpal contacted Shivam, who reassured him that everything was safe. However, the following day, the two were taken through a jungle route and illegally pushed across the border into Myanmar.
In Myanmar, they were taken to a company named Supana in the Dangyang area. There, a Chinese national and an Indian intermediary allegedly made them sign certain documents and briefed them about the work. Within a few days, Yashpal was trained in Facebook editing and instructed to create fake Facebook accounts using different photographs, which were then used to cheat unsuspecting users online.
According to the complaint, when Yashpal refused to continue the work, both youths were threatened, mentally harassed and confined within the building. The victims claimed that the entire operation was controlled by Chinese nationals. Later, clashes reportedly broke out between armed groups and the local army in the area, creating chaos. Taking advantage of the situation, the Chinese handlers fled, giving the youths an opportunity to escape.
Yashpal said he wandered within Myanmar for several days before learning about an NGO that provided him shelter for nearly a month. Eventually, with the help of the Indian embassy, both youths were brought back to India safely.
The police have registered a case against Keshav Biljwan and Shivam, and are investigating the entire network, including recruitment agents, illegal travel routes, and the cyber fraud syndicate operating from Myanmar.
Authorities have cautioned young job seekers against unverified overseas job offers, online-only interviews, and agents demanding money upfront, noting that such methods are frequently used in cases of human trafficking and cyber crime. They have advised thorough verification and official confirmation before accepting any such offers.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
