Aasha ke Pankh was instrumental in supporting a repatriation operation of Mr Rajesh Binu (25-year-old man from Tamil Nadu), a human trafficking victim, who was lured into a scam job located in Thailand, by agents who promised a data entry position. After paying Rs. 1,20,000, Rajesh and another victim, Shajeen, were trafficked across the Thailand-Myanmar border into a militant camp and were both forced into a Bitcoin scam. They were then subjected to extreme abuse, which included physical torture and also confinement. Rajesh and Shajeen endured 13–15-hour workdays while being subject to brutal punishments, including getting beaten up and also electrocuted, if they refused to comply with the militants’ demands. After nineteen days in captivity, they were unexpectedly released and left at the Thai border without proper documentation, rendering them illegal immigrants. The victims managed to contact the International Justice Mission (IJM), who guided them through the process of legalizing their stay in Thailand. With the support of the Indian Consulate in Chiang Mai, they extended their visas and arranged safe passage back to India. Rajesh and Shajeen arrived home on July 6, 2023, where IJM ensured their safe return to their families.
