A glimmer of hope has emerged for Faizan Rasool, 28, from Safakadal, Srinagar, who has been held hostage in Myanmar after falling victim to ‘human trafficking’.
The Indian mission in Myanmar has taken up the matter with the concerned authorities, working through diplomatic channels to ensure his safe return.
According to Faizan’s father, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, Faizan left home for a better future but is now trapped in a foreign country. “We are helpless. If the government does not act quickly, we may never see him again,” Bhat told a local daily in Srinagar.
He said they are struggling financially, and are unable to pay the Rs 4.5 lakh ransom demanded by his captors.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting immediate intervention.
Nasir Khuehami, JKSA’s national convener, said that Faizan was tricked with a fake job offer in Thailand. He said Faizan and a friend travelled to Bangkok but were instead trafficked to Myanmar, enduring a 15-hour bus journey, crossing a river and ending up in a dangerous region known for forced labour and organised crime.
Khuehami said another Kashmiri youth, also named Faizan, was recently freed after his family paid the ransom, leaving them in severe debt.
He warned that human traffickers are increasingly targeting Kashmiri youth, taking advantage of their desperation for jobs.
The JKSA has urged the MEA to act swiftly to secure Faizan’s release. It has also called for stronger action against human traffickers exploiting job seekers, and clear travel advisories and awareness campaigns to prevent such cases.
“The Indian government has always supported its citizens in times of crisis. We trust that under Dr Jaishankar’s leadership, every possible step will be taken to bring Faizan home safely,” JKSA said in a statement.