The DMK and its media allies, including “YouTurn,” are falsely crediting Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin with the rescue of cyber scam victims abroad, a mission spearheaded by the Modi-led central government. This sycophancy reflects a lack of understanding of constitutional divisions, as foreign affairs fall under the Union’s jurisdiction.
Ignorance Among DMK Cadre
The ruling DMK and its cadres, who often claim to uphold and protect the constitution, seem to have little understanding of it. They appear to struggle even with the basic spelling of “constitution.” This shameless Dravidian faction envies the central government for its initiatives but has no shame in claiming credit for the positive initiatives it undertakes.
Recently, the Dravidian unofficial mouth piece media “YouTurn” has peddled a narrative that attempts to credit Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for the efforts of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the center, completely overlooking the distinct powers held by both the central and state governments. This has drawn severe criticism for its lack of common sense and blatant buttressal.
A recent debate show on a private TV channel highlighted the issue of cyberslavery occurring worldwide, with many Indians falling victim to job scams. During the show, a person who had been trapped and forced to work as a data entry operator shared his experiences of long hours, low pay and modern slavery. The host expressed shock at the lack of media coverage on such critical issues. Another participant pointed out that it was the “Indian” government’s recent efforts that had successfully addressed this problem.
As the video gained traction and drew attention to the actions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in Tamil Nadu, the Dravidian stocks and its leaders got hurt and started to react by claiming that these were the accomplishments of the DMK and its leader, MK Stalin, seemingly unaware of constitutional principles. According to Article 246 of the Constitution’s Seventh Schedule, the Union List includes matters related to foreign affairs, encompassing all issues establishing the Union’s relations with other countries.
YouTurn Boosts The Buttressing Drive
Even more surprising was that the media outlet “YouTurn,” which claims to be an independent fact-checker and is affiliated with Google, backed the Dravidian leaders’ assertions. They cited a video from Kalaignar News, a channel owned by the family of the late DMK chief and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, as proof.
On 22 October 2024, YouTurn media via its official X account stated, “The Tamil Nadu government has also rescued those who were trapped abroad as cyber slaves. “Information about those trapped in Cambodia came to the attention of the Chief Minister through their families. We have taken departmental action and brought them at the full cost of the Tamil Nadu government,” said Senji Mastan after the rescue incident in 2022.”
வெளிநாடுகளில் சைபர் அடிமைகளாக சிக்கி இருந்தவர்களை தமிழ்நாடு அரசும் மீட்டுள்ளது.
”கம்போடியா நாட்டில் சிக்கி இருந்தவர்கள் பற்றிய தகவல் அவர்களது குடும்பத்தினர் மூலமாக முதலமைச்சர் கவனத்திற்கு வந்தது. துறை சார்ந்த நடவடிக்கை எடுத்து, தமிழ்நாடு அரசின் முழு செலவில் இவர்களை அழைத்து… https://t.co/eU4qONyA7F
— youturn (@youturn_in) October 22, 2024
How The MEA Quietly Rescued Cyber Slavery Victims
What is indeed true is that, in November 2022, the Ministry of External Affairs reported that over 370 Indians who fell victim to job rackets have been rescued from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that the Indian missions in Yangon, Bangkok, and the Consulate in Chiang Mai have been actively working to address the cases of Indians trapped in these fraudulent job schemes.
Bagchi mentioned that around 108 individuals from Cambodia have also been rescued. He explained that people from India and elsewhere were lured into these situations and became stranded in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
“We have successfully rescued more than 200 people from Myanmar, with 153 already repatriated to India. The remaining individuals, about 50, are in the process of being repatriated. They are currently in Thailand, and we are coordinating with Thai authorities to complete the legal formalities for their return to India,” he said.
“We have been issuing advisories, urging both Thai and Myanmar authorities to prioritize these cases and assist in the repatriation efforts,” he added.
It might be right for the Dravidian stocks to claim that Tamil Nadu closely collaborated with the Centre to bring back Tamils trapped abroad as laborers. However, the Tamil Nadu government cannot claim full credit for these rescues alone.
Suppose they assert that they did it independently. Why does Chief Minister MK Stalin write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding incidents like the killings of fishermen in Indian waters? Can the Tamil Nadu government handle these matters entirely on its own?
What Has The Indian Government Done So Far?
Recent data from the Bureau of Immigration reveals that out of 73,138 Indians who travelled to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam on visitor visas between January 2022 and May 2024, a staggering 29,466 have not returned. This group predominantly consists of young adults, with more than half (17,115) aged between 20 and 39, and males making up the majority at 21,182. Notably, over one-third of these missing individuals come from Punjab (3,667), Maharashtra (3,233), and Tamil Nadu (3,124), with Thailand accounting for a significant 69% (20,450 cases).
State-wise data highlights that significant numbers of missing persons also come from Uttar Pradesh (2,946), Kerala (2,659), Delhi (2,140), and Gujarat (2,068). Furthermore, the majority of those who haven’t returned left Delhi airport (12,493), followed by Mumbai (4,699) and Kolkata (2,395).
The victims, often promised data entry jobs, report being coerced into fraudulent schemes and creating fake social media profiles to lure unsuspecting investors into cryptocurrency scams. Survivors recounted that their passports were confiscated upon arrival, and they were subjected to threats and violence to ensure compliance.
Additionally, a concerning 45% of cybercrimes targeting Indians are believed to originate from Southeast Asia, with around 100,000 cyber complaints recorded since January 2023. The Centre is now improving mechanisms to identify potential victims and prevent further exploitation.
In April 2024, 17 Indian workers were repatriated from Laos after being lured into unsafe and illegal jobs. They had fallen victim to human traffickers and were coerced into conducting online financial scams. The External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, acknowledged their safe return and emphasized the need for thorough background checks on potential employers.
In May 2024, a significant operation led to the rescue of 360 Indians from Cambodia, where they were also involved in online scams. The Indian government has since established a high-level inter-ministerial committee to combat the rising cybercrime contributing to these exploitative situations. The embassy confirmed that the rescued individuals would soon be repatriated to India.
In July 2024, eleven Indian victims trapped in a job scam in Shwe Ko Ko, Myawaddy, Myanmar, were successfully rescued with the assistance of local authorities. The Indian embassy in Myanmar announced their release, highlighting the city’s notorious reputation for scam jobs. Before this, thirteen other Indians had faced challenges in returning home due to their illegal entry into the country. Reports indicated that many individuals from Tamil Nadu had been ensnared in similar job scams across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos.
Earlier in October 2024, 67 Indians trapped in job scams in Cambodia were recently rescued, with 39 already back in India and 28 more set to return soon. The Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh had been actively coordinating the rescue efforts, working closely with Cambodian authorities. The scam, which primarily operated in Southeast Asia, lures individuals with fake job offers—often for data entry roles—through deceptive agents and online advertisements. Once in Cambodia, victims are coerced into participating in illegal cyber activities, such as creating fake social media accounts and running fraudulent schemes.
The Indian Embassy, following specific leads, collaborated with Cambodian police to rescue the 67 victims from Poipet on 22 September 2024. The cyber scam, affecting about 5,000 Indians in Cambodia, has resulted in significant financial losses, with estimates suggesting over ₹500 crore lost to such schemes. The Embassy has been actively repatriating affected individuals since January 2022, having helped over 1,000 return, including nearly 770 in 2024 alone.
In recent months, at least 360 Indian citizens, primarily lured by fake job offers, were rescued from working as “cyber slaves” in Cambodia. These individuals were trapped in exploitative conditions, and forced to engage in online scams after having their passports confiscated upon arrival. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) reported that another 60 Indians are expected to return soon. The victims often reach Cambodia via Thailand, seeking better job opportunities, only to fall prey to human trafficking and organized crime.
Other Measures Taken By Modi Govt
The Indian government has formed a high-level inter-ministerial task force to tackle the growing cybercrime linked to Southeast Asia, with a focus on Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. The task force is working to enhance mechanisms to identify potential victims before they travel, addressing vulnerabilities in India’s banking, immigration, and telecom systems. It has also directed all states and Union Territories to conduct ground-level verification of missing individuals as part of the investigation.
The country’s telecom ministry has implemented measures to combat cyber fraud, including disconnecting 21.7 million mobile connections and blocking approximately 226,000 devices. To tackle this issue, an inter-ministerial committee was established, comprising representatives from the Home Ministry, Immigration Bureau, Financial Intelligence Unit, Reserve Bank of India, Information Technology Ministry, and National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Telecom operators have been instructed to prevent incoming international “spoofed calls” that appear to originate from Indian mobile numbers, which constitute around 35% of all international incoming calls. Additionally, telecom companies are required to provide data on Indian numbers using roaming services in countries such as Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Myanmar.
According to a report by The Indian Express on September 30, there were around 600,000 Indian phones registered as roaming in Southeast Asia from April to June this year.
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