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Homecoming for 6 youths who were duped into joining Russian Army: ‘Released after PM Modi intervened’

The men include three from Karnataka and one each from Telangana, Kashmir and Kolkata

The families of the youths had earlier said they were tricked into believing they were applying for jobs as helpers in Russian government offices, but were forced to head to the frontlines, putting their life in danger. (Representational Photo)

Six youths who were being made to work in the Russian Army after being duped by agents returned to India early Friday morning. They include Mohammed Sufiyan, a youth from Narayanpet district of Telangana, and three youths from Gulbarga – Mohammed Ilyas Sayed Hussaini, 23, Mohammed Samir Ahmed, 24, and Naeem Ahmed, 23.

“They and at least 55 others, including several Indians, were released from service. The contract they were duped into signing only ends three months later but they were released after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia recently and raised the issue. Along with them, a youth from Kashmir and another from Kolkata boarded a flight from Moscow on Thursday evening and landed at New Delhi airport before taking flights to their respective cities,” Saiyed Salman, Sufiyan’s brother, told The Indian Express.

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Hyderabad resident Mohammed Afsan, who had gone in November, died there, leading to panic among the families.

Sufiyan, 24, was working at a packing company in Dubai, earning Rs 30,000 per month, before he came in contact with an agent who convinced him to apply for the job in Moscow. But he ended up on the frontlines in Ukraine, said Saiyed Salman, Sufiyan’s brother.

On February 27, he was almost killed in a drone strike. The three from Karnataka’s Gulbarga were working alongside Sufiyan in the Dubai company and followed the agent’s advice to apply for the jobs in Moscow.

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