Naga student bodies assist families of 25 Nagaland youths arrested in Maharashtra call centre case

DIMAPUR — With reports confirming that 25 Nagaland youths are among those arrested in the recent fake call centre bust in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), Naga student bodies in Pune and Mumbai have mobilised to help the detainees’ families and arrange legal support.

Naga Students’ Union Pune (NSUP) President Namgui KC Gangmei told Eastern Mirror on Saturday that all 116 individuals arrested in the October 29 raid—including the 25 from Nagaland—are currently being held at the local police station.

He said that around 60 of those arrested hail from the Northeast, and the NSUP has formed a WhatsApp group for parents and relatives of the Nagaland detainees to coordinate communication and assistance.

“So far, 12 parents and relatives have joined the group, and we are still working to identify and reach out to others,” Gangmei said.

The union, he added, is also raising funds to hire a lawyer for the detainees’ bail process. A lawyer has been identified, but the planned meeting with the arrested individuals has been delayed due to a shortage of funds for legal fees.

Gangmei said that some parents were initially informed by police that the detainees would be released within 14–15 days, but since they have now been transferred to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar jail, the matter requires a formal legal process.

When asked whether the arrested were victims of job scams, Gangmei replied that the unions had yet to meet them in person. “Some may have been scammed, while others might not be. One person was arrested the same day he joined the job,” he added.

The Naga Students’ Union Mumbai (NSUM) and NSUP have issued a public notice on social media urging people with relatives or friends working in Aurangabad-based call centres to contact Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police Station (PSI Radha: +91 93730 27682).

Gangmei also appealed to parents and relatives of the arrested from Nagaland to contact him at +91 98620 77102 or reach out to NSUM President Ramachan Shimray at +91 70865 25659 for coordination and updates.

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