After youth’s video from Russia-Ukraine war zone, Ludhiana family seeks Centre’s help: ‘He went to work, not to fight a war’

Several men from these states who had gone to Russia on study or work visas were allegedly recruited into the Russian Army and deployed to the frontline in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Charanjit Singh, father of Samarjeet, said his son had gone to the Russian capital Moscow in July this year “to study and work, not to fight a war”.

“He has been fraudulently pushed to fight the war and handed weapons. He had gone to Russia via a local agent from Ludhiana. He was promised a recruitment role as an assistant to Army doctors, not as a soldier to fight in the war. We appeal to the Government of India to rescue my son. His life is in danger,” said Charanjit, who runs a small grocery shop.

Samarjeet, a resident of Mohalla Amarpuri in Daba village of Ludhiana, went to Russia after completing his Class 12 education and a diploma qualifying him as an X-ray technician.

“He went to Russia after working in some private hospitals in Ludhiana. He had gone for higher studies and was also working part-time as a construction worker in Russia. However, just around 15 days ago, he told us that he was being recruited as an assistant to a doctor in the Russian Army. He had also made us a video call,” said the inconsolable father.

Father says he asked Samarjeet to return

“When I saw him wearing the combat uniform, I questioned him about his job profile, to which he said that we should not worry. He said that he, along with other men, was being taken for training, but I knew something was wrong. I warned him to strictly focus on his studies or return home if things were unclear,” said Charanjit, who borrowed Rs 10 lakh and mortgaged his land to send Samarjeet to Russia.

For a week (last Tuesday), the family has failed to connect with Samarjeet, who is now inaccessible on the phone.

“We last spoke to him on Tuesday, and he told us not to worry. But now we can’t even reach him on the phone. His mother and grandmother are inconsolable. We appeal to PM Narendra Modi to please get our son back,” said the father.

In the video, Samarjeet, along with Buta Singh, who is also from Punjab, is heard saying that there are nine men who are being treated “badly” and “not being given enough food or water.”

Samarjeet further says in the video that they were brought to Russia on the “pretext of well paying jobs” but later “pushed to the frontline to fight the war”.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has meanwhile issued several warnings to Indian nationals to refrain from accepting any such lucrative job offer in Russia via fraudulent agents who are duping youths. The MEA has assured that the matter has already been taken up with the Russian authorities to relieve Indian nationals from Russian Army.