Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: A 19-year-old youth from Meghalaya has returned home after spending three years trapped in exploitative conditions at a restaurant in Srinagar. Genal R Marak, a resident of the East Khasi Hills district, was rescued following a distress call made to the state government's 1971 CM Connect helpline on April 24, 2026. During the call, the teenager expressed suicidal thoughts due to the abuse he was suffering.
Marak originally left home at age 16 seeking work in Shillong, where an acquaintance convinced him to move to Kashmir for employment. Instead, he was subjected to physical and mental abuse by his employer and denied his wages. Upon receiving the distress signal, Meghalaya officials worked alongside law enforcement agencies in Jammu and Kashmir. An Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Assistant Labour Commissioner tracked him down and secured his release within hours.
A magistrate from Meghalaya oversaw the rescue operation while the youth's family traveled to Srinagar to assist in his return. Before departing, authorities ensured that Marak received his pending wages. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma met the young man at the Guwahati airport on Saturday, crediting the digital helpline for the successful intervention. The case underscores the vital role of rapid interstate coordination in protecting vulnerable workers across the country.
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