Fake recruitment agents: Indian Embassy in Myanmar informed, says Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the government has informed the Indian Embassy in Myanmar about the complaints against fake recruitment agents who allegedly trafficked youths from the state to the border of Myanmar and Thailand by giving false advertisements on social media platforms.

As soon as the information about the cheating was received, the Norka-Roots issued guidelines and warnings across Kerala through social media about the Myanmar travel issues, he said.

Cases have been registered against two persons hailing from Kollam district based on the complaint of those who had escaped from such fraudulent groups and managed to return home, he said.

Two persons were arrested and further legal measures were being initiated in this regard, he told the state Assembly while replying to a submission raised by senior Congress Legislator Ramesh Chennithala.

"The matter has been brought to the notice of the Indian Embassy in Myanmar, and further action has been taken," the CM said.

The CM further said two Thiruvananthapuram natives had been arrested in connection with cyber financial fraud by using fake SIM cards.

He claimed that the state police have taken effective measures to prevent financial fraud, detect fake recruitment agents, and curb false advertisements through social media.

Vijayan said the state police chief has sent a report about online financial frauds to the Reserve Bank Governor and the India Cyber Cell Coordination Centre and further action is being taken in this regard.

"Operation Shubhayatra," a joint venture of the Norka-Roots, Union Ministry of External Affairs and Kerala police, has been implemented to specifically investigate complaints of foreign recruitment agencies, job scams and human trafficking.

In this regard, an emergency meeting was convened on June 26 and it was decided to hand over information received from the Ministry of External Affairs to the NRI Cell of the state police, the Chief Minister added.