Trained to handle weapons: Hyderabad man sent to Russia for job, forced to fight against Ukraine
Last month, the ministry had said that India had strongly called upon Russia to release and repatriate 27 Indian nationals currently serving with the Russian Army.
New Delhi: A man from Hyderabad was allegedly duped by an agent and sent to Russia on pretext of job offer but ended up fighting on the frontlines in the ongoing war against Ukraine. Mohammed Ahmed, 37, was allegedly trapped in Russia after the agent lured him by offering work in a private construction company.
Ahmed's wife has written to the Union Minister for External Affairs, S Jaishankar, requesting his intervention for her husband's rescue and repatriation. Afsha Begum alleged that her husband left for Russia on April 25 after an agent offered him a construction job by a company named Trust Consultancy. The firm, which is based in Mumbai, is run by a person named Adil, according to Ahmed's wife.
What Hyderabad man's wife said
She claimed that some more people were promised job in a construction company in Russia besides her husband but they "forcibly given weapons and trained for nearly 26 days". She also alleged that her husband and others were taken to a border area to fight against the Ukrainian army.
Ahmed was also allegedly threatened to either fight or face death, his wife claimed. She appealed to the External Affairs Ministry to direct the Indian Embassy in Moscow to contact and rescue her husband and bring him back to India.
What Indian govt said on issue
Last month, the ministry had said that India had strongly called upon Russia to release and repatriate 27 Indian nationals currently serving with the Russian Army.
According to reports, some Indians on student and business visas were forced into joining Russian military units deployed on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also raised the issue last year when he visited Russia.
More than 150 Indians have been recruited by the Russian military so far, as per official data. At least 12 Indians were killed while fighting on the frontlines of the conflict in Ukraine, while 96 were discharged by Russian authorities.