45 Indians who were tricked into joining the Russian army have been discharged (Rendering)
Moscow:
Forty-five Indians who were forced to illegally join the Russian army and fight for them on the battlefronts against Ukraine have been rescued from the war zone and discharged from the Russian army, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.
There are 50 more Indian citizens still on the battlefields in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and efforts are underway to rescue and release them as well, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson added.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Modi that Russia would discharge each and every Indian who had been duped and falsely recruited into the Russian Army and subsequently forced to go to the battlefields in Ukraine.
HOW INDIANS WERE TRICKED INTO JOINING THE RUSSIAN ARMY
A human trafficking network stretching from New Delhi to Tamil Nadu used social media platforms and local agents to lure people to Russia by offering them lucrative jobs or admission to what the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) called “dubious private universities.”
However, once they arrived in Russia, the victims had their passports taken away and were trained in combat roles before being sent to the front.
Around 100 Indian citizens are trapped in this situation and at least four Indians have been killed in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Indian police have arrested at least four people involved in labour trafficking.
A viral video from earlier this year showed a group of men from Punjab and Haryana, dressed in military uniforms, claiming they had been tricked into fighting in the war in Ukraine and doubling down on their call for help.
New Delhi has said every case brought to its attention is being “vigorously dealt with” with Russia to ensure “early discharge” of stranded people, and 10 Indians have been brought back as part of this effort so far.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said “toughest legal action” will be taken against agents who misled Kerala students into fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
“It is totally unacceptable that an Indian should be brought into a conflict zone and in any way forced to work for a conflict, for an army…” Jaishankar had said earlier this year.
PM MODI RAISES ISSUE WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN
During his visit to Moscow in July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin, following which Russia decided to dismiss all Indians working in the Russian military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had promised Prime Minister Modi that Russia would do everything possible to bring back Indians who were tricked into joining the war in Ukraine.
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