Jharkhand techie trapped in Myanmar by cyber-fraud after being lured with high-paying job

The Indian Embassy in Myanmar is actively working to secure the safe return of a 26-year-old Jharkhand resident, Mohammed Shahzeb Rahman, who is reportedly being held hostage by a cyber-fraud network in Myawaddy, a town near the India-Myanmar border.

Shahzeb, a mechanical engineering graduate from Azadnagar, Dhanbad, had been working in Bengaluru in an IT firm before he was allegedly lured under the promise of lucrative overseas employment. In December 2024, he left India and fell into the hands of a criminal group demanding ransom.

Shahzeb’s mother, Nishat Afroz, lodged a complaint with the Chief Minister’s Office on November 12, prompting the Jharkhand Labour Department’s State Migrant Control Room, led by Shikha Lakra, to take immediate action. Afroz claimed that her son was being tortured and that the captors had already extorted more than ₹4.4 lakh, while demanding an additional ₹2.20 lakh. Shahzeb reportedly sent a message on October 9 via Telegram stating he was being held hostage in Myawaddy.

Officials said the situation is complicated because Myawaddy is not fully under local administrative control, making any rescue operation challenging. Shahzeb has reportedly been moved to Yatai New City, further complicating efforts to locate him.

Afroz described her son as her only support, saying he cared for her and helped with her medical needs. “If something happens to him, I will have no one left in this world,” she said, highlighting the urgency of the operation.

The Indian Embassy and Jharkhand authorities continue to monitor developments closely, with all efforts focused on ensuring Shahzeb’s safe and speedy return to India.