KOHIMA: Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, has stated that the 45 Naga youth held in Patiala’s Nabha Jail and Ropar District Jail, Punjab, for cybercrime cases are being “falsely implicated”.
After meeting Advocate General K N Balgopal in New Delhi on Saturday, the Chief Minister directed him to personally intervene and deploy his team to take urgent actions for their release.
A report from the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), published in the local press, detailed Rio’s instructions, highlighting the need for immediate legal action.
Rio also tasked the Resident Commissioner in-charge of Nagaland House in New Delhi to maintain contact with the families of the detained youth and provide necessary assistance.
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The families have been urged to cooperate with the Government of Nagaland by providing all relevant information to facilitate the release of their children.
The youth, arrested on May 14 and 15, are being held on non-bailable charges following a Punjab Police operation that busted two fake call centres in Patiala, resulting in the arrest of approximately 155 individuals.
The plight of these youth came to light after Neeraj Punj, a volunteer with the NGO Helping Hands based in Chandigarh, disclosed the situation on June 18 during an event in Wokha district.
He revealed that the detained individuals have been enduring extreme conditions in the jails for over a month.
Punj also pointed out the severe lack of awareness among the parents regarding their children’s imprisonment and the need to scrutinise recruiting companies that mislead individuals from the Northeast with false job promises, ultimately involving them in criminal activities.
Punj’s revelations have highlighted the urgent need for intervention and support from the Nagaland government for the release of the youths.
