MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Two youngsters from Muzaffarabad who were kidnapped by a taxi driver while traveling in the Highlands have been rescued from Myanmar after paying a huge ransom.
Two youths named Omar Abbasi and Raees Abbasi from Muzaffarabad were kidnapped by the driver while traveling in a taxi in Thailand on October 10, 2024. They were taken to Myanmar after being knocked unconscious and thrown into prison.
The youths were kept in captivity for several months and were subjected to mental torture in addition to physical violence. Finally, American and Australian NGOs played a role in their release and secured their release.
The released Omar Abbasi told the media that the conditions were extremely bad and 100 people were imprisoned and tortured daily in a large camp. Omar Abbasi says that we were told that we had been bought, and if we tried to escape, we would be killed.
According to Omar Abbasi, despite several appeals to the government, we did not get any help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or embassies, only Azad Kashmir Minister Bazal Naqvi made some efforts, but we had to pay a huge ransom for our families and get our release.
According to sources, the youth were rescued with the help of American and Australian non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The NGOs negotiated with the human traffickers paid the ransom and transferred both of them from Myanmar to Thailand.
The details of how much ransom was paid for the recovery of the two youths or who paid it have not come to light yet, but the youth have complained to the government for not playing its role.
The youth said that despite several border checkposts between Thailand and Myanmar, they were smuggled. How is it possible to cross the border without any checking? This shows that there is an organized network between the Thai and Myanmar governments.
Both young men are happy to be reunited with their families, but they are demanding that the government investigate this kidnapping and trafficking network.
According to foreign media reports, there are currently about 40,000 people imprisoned in Myanmar, including citizens of 37 countries, who are facing constant torture, forced labor, and poor living conditions.
It may be recalled that the constituency’s MLA and government minister, Bazal Naqvi, had written a letter to the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, appealing for them to play a role in the kidnapping of the youth.
