KOHIMA: Forty-five individuals from Nagaland are languishing in Punjab jails on non-bailable charges related to cybercrime cases.
Among those arrested, ten belong to the Lotha tribe.
Currently, the male detainees are held in Nabha Jail in Patiala, while the female detainees are housed in Ropar District Jail.
The situation came to light through Neeraj Punj, a volunteer with Helping Hands, an NGO in Chandigarh, who raised the issue during an event in Wokha district on Tuesday.
He informed the gathering that the Naga individuals were arrested after Punjab Police busted two fake call centres in Patiala, resulting in the arrest of approximately 155 people on May 15.
“These individuals have been in jail for over a month, enduring extreme temperatures exceeding 46 degrees Celsius,” Punj added, underscoring the harsh conditions they’re in.
Punj highlighted the profound lack of awareness among the parents of the detained individuals regarding their children’s imprisonment in Punjab.
“When I contacted the parents, many were completely unaware of their children being locked up in a Punjab jail. Some were apprehensive about the legal process, indicating their limited understanding of the severity of cybercrimes,” Punj lamented.
He also urged local MP S. Supongmeren Jamir, also present at the event, to escalate the matter to the Nagaland state government and facilitate the release of the detained individuals.
Punj further highlighted the need to scrutinise the authenticity of recruiting companies that lure unsuspecting individuals from the Northeast under false pretences of employment, subsequently involving them in criminal activities.
“Everything is just a few taps away on Google. The first thing you need to do is verify the contact details of the recruiting company. Check if the company is registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on the MCA website. Also, verify if the physical address provided by the company actually exists,” he said.
Currently, the situation remains critical as efforts to secure legal assistance and support for the detained individuals are ongoing.
