Stories of ‘deception and abuse’ from Cambodia

Among the rescued survivors, Suvaram Kranthi Kumar, a 38-year-old from West Godavari, shared his ordeal in a chat with Deccan Chronicle.

Upon arrival in Cambodia, he underwent a week-long training session. He was instructed to create fake profiles on various social media platforms. The purpose, he learned, was to lure unsuspecting individuals.

Kumar said he had expressed his reluctance to engage in fraudulent activities and pleaded that he be allowed to return to India. The agents there threatened him with filing of charges/cases like drug trafficking if he attempted to leave.

“The working conditions were deplorable. Punishments were given to us for any failure to comply with their demands, including night duties, withholding of meals, prolonged standing, and salary deductions. There were also those from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, who were similarly coerced into such rackets."

He said that over a span of five months, he earned a meager income ranging from $400 to $600 monthly, which he sent back home.

Kudipadi Siva Kumar, a 20-year-old from Visakhapatnam, revealed how his agent, Rajesh, facilitated his journey with an advance payment of `1,30,000. Travelling from Vizag to Kolkata, then to Bangkok, and finally reaching Cambodia by car, he found himself coerced into sending Facebook requests to many on behalf of the Cambodian operators. Despite his efforts, he was compensated with a pay of `400 dollars per month, starting from December, he said.

Bobbi Bali Reddy, aged 22 and from Visakhapatnam, too engaged the services of agent Rajesh, paying an advance of `1,80,000.

Commencing the journey on March 9, his responsibilities included sending Facebook requests during his training period. However, due to his underperformance, he received only half his promised salary, amounting to `30,000.

Those who have returned to Visakhapatnam include Paripalli Satyannarayana, Aasuri Tarun Krishna, Gantedi Venkatesh, Kondeti Ramanjunayalu, Yacop Raj, Hari Kiran Reddy, Donga Soma Sri Ram, Arnipalli Sekhar, Anil Kapuganti, Suvaram Kranthi Kumar, Kudipadi Siva Kumar, Samathani Dinesh Kumar, Vareesh Basha Shaik, Bobbi Balireddy, Kishore Pilla, Harish Kumar Vanapalli, Ramakrishna Choppa, Vijay Kumar, Sarvasiddi Saigopal, Soppari Siva Sankar, Jayakrishna, Katari Praveen Kumar, Vadupalli Naveen Kumar and Landa Ravindra.