Srinagar- What began as a journey for a better future has turned into a nightmare for Faizan Rasool, a 28-year-old from Safakadal, Srinagar. Promised a job in Thailand, he instead found himself trafficked into Myanmar, where he is now being held for ransom by abductors demanding ₹4.5 lakh for his release.
His family, struggling to make ends meet, is desperate and powerless. “He left home with dreams in his eyes… now we don’t even know if he’s alive,” sobs his mother, clutching an old photograph of her son.
Faizan’s ordeal began when a friend lured him with the prospect of overseas employment. Instead of reaching Thailand, he was trafficked across dangerous borders and abandoned in Myanmar—a region notorious for human trafficking and organized crime. His abductors now control his fate, threatening dire consequences if the ransom isn’t paid.
His family is not alone in their suffering. Another Kashmiri youth—also named Faizan—recently returned home after paying the same ransom amount. His family, among the poorest in their neighborhood, is now buried under debt.
Growing Trend of Human Trafficking
Faizan’s case is part of an alarming trend where Kashmiri youth, desperate for jobs, are being lured into employment scams and smuggled into conflict-ridden territories. Many are forced to work in cybercrime syndicates, while others are simply held for ransom.
Parents, devastated and helpless, are now calling for urgent government intervention. Faizan’s father, his voice shaking, pleads: “We are helpless. If the government does not act, we may never see our son again.”
Authorities Must Act Before It’s Too Late
With traffickers growing bolder and families left to fend for themselves, experts warn that swift intervention is critical. The question remains—how many more Kashmiri youth will vanish before action is taken?
For now, Faizan’s family clings to hope, waiting for a miracle that may never come.
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