Reports suggest that another seven Indian citizens are stranded in Russia. A video that went viral on social media shows these Indian nationals pleading with the government for their safe return home.
The video comes at a time when the government had recently acknowledged that 20 Indians were trapped in Russia. The Foreign Ministry reported these individuals were lured to Russia with the promise of employment, only to be pushed into the Ukrainian conflict. Efforts are underway to ensure the safe return of these Indian citizens.
Last month, Hemil Ashwinbhai Mangukiya from Surat lost his life while fighting in the war. Hemil was fighting on behalf of Russia, allegedly killed in a Ukrainian missile attack. At just 23 years old, Hemil had joined the Russian army as a 'helper,' with a promised salary of 50,000 rupees per month. Hemil spoke to his family for the last time on February 20th.
Most of the Indians trapped in Russia hail from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. The recent video features 5 individuals from Punjab and 2 from Haryana.
Two Indian citizens who were deceitfully enlisted in the Russian army have reportedly died in the conflict, identified as Mohammed Ashfan and Hemil Mangukiya.
Who are the Indians stranded in Russia?
According to media reports, the seven Indians shown in the video are between the ages of 20 and 24. Their names are Gagandeep Singh (24), Lovepreet Singh (24), Narayan Singh (22), Gurpreet Singh (21), Gurpreet Singh (23), Harsh Kumar (20), and Abhishek Kumar (21).
In the video, they can be seen wearing jackets and caps with military designs. Six people are standing in the background while one is recording the video.
As per the video, these individuals had traveled to Russia to celebrate the New Year. There, they met an agent who initially showed them around Russia and then promised to take them sightseeing in Belarus. When they declined to pay more money in Belarus, the agent abandoned them on the Belarus highway. Local police then detained them and handed them over to the Russian army.
They claimed that the Russian army presented them with a contract and said they could either sign it and work as helpers in the army or face a 10-year jail sentence. Without any other option, they signed the contract.
They shared that after minimal training, they were sent off to Ukraine. Others with them were placed directly on the frontlines. They were told the same: despite not knowing how to properly handle weapons, they were being sent to the frontline.
Source: aajtak
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How are Indians getting trapped?
There are at least two dozen Indians in the Russian army, being forced to participate in the war. These Indians go to Russia on a tourist visa but end up getting trapped there.
Ravneet Singh from Gurdaspur, Punjab, is also among the Indians stranded in Russia. Ravneet's family reported that they had paid an agent 1.1 million rupees for a Russian tourist visa, with promises of securing a good job. Ravneet and his friend Vikram were together in Russia.
Ravneet's family claims that while touring in Russia, they were arrested by police, handed over to the Russian army, and forcefully recruited to fight against Ukraine.
Ravneet informed his family over the phone about being coerced into signing an agreement in Russian, a language he did not understand. They also allege that not just them, but others who had traveled to Russia as tourists, were also forcibly enlisted in the army.
Hemil Mangukiya from Surat, who recently died in an attack in Ukraine, was seemingly trapped in a similar situation. His cousin Darshan claimed that Hemil had paid an agent 300,000 rupees to travel to Russia for a job offering a 50,000-rupee monthly salary. However, upon arriving, the company made him sign a contract that stated he would be deployed in a warzone for a monthly salary of 200,000 rupees.
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Source: aajtak
And there are more Indians!
Hemil Mangukiya and the seven Indians are not the only ones who have been duped and entrapped in Russia. Prior to them, many Indians have been sent to fight in Ukraine under false pretenses.
Three young men from Telangana and Karnataka were also deceitfully sent by Russia to fight in Ukraine. A brother of one victim reported an arrangement with an agent for a lucrative job in Dubai. Last year, his brother went to Dubai, but the agent diverted him to Russia claiming better job opportunities there.
Subsequently, the agent demanded 300,000 rupees to secure a good job for him in Russia. Upon arrival in Moscow, his phone and passport were confiscated.
The tale of all Indians trapped in Russia is shockingly similar. An individual from Uttar Pradesh has also claimed being falsely enlisted in the Russian army. He told BBC that he was promised a monthly salary of 150,000 rupees in Moscow but was not informed about being recruited for war.
What is India's official stance?
The Indian Foreign Ministry held a press conference on February 29th, announcing that approximately 20 Indian citizens in Russia had sought help for repatriation.
Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal revealed that discussions with Russian officials regarding the repatriation of Indian citizens from war-affected areas are ongoing.
They are also negotiating with Russian authorities for the prompt discharge of Indian citizens assisting the Russian army. An appeal was issued to avoid traveling to war-torn regions.
