'Treated like slaves': Indians conned into joining Russian army return
Four Indian citizens, who were duped into joining a private Russian Army and forced to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, have returned home. The men were victims of a job scam that also ensnared approximately 60 other young Indians. Many of these individuals remain stranded in Russia, serving as soldiers in the ongoing conflict.
Victims recount harsh conditions and forced labor
The victims were lured to Russia in December 2023 with promises of jobs as security personnel or helpers. Upon arrival, they were drafted into service and subjected to harsh conditions. Mohammad Sufiyan from Telangana, one of the returnees, described their treatment as akin to slavery. "We were woken up at 6:00am every day and made to work 15 hours straight - with no rest or sleep," he told TOI.
Forced military training and psychological isolation
The men were forced to perform strenuous tasks such as digging trenches and operating assault rifles. They were also trained to use Kalashnikovs like the AK-12 and AK-74, hand grenades, and other explosives. "Our hands were blistered, our backs ached...bullets were fired at us to force us back into the laborious tasks," Sufiyan revealed. Abdul Nayeem from Karnataka added that their phones were confiscated, leaving them disconnected from their families for months during training.
Returnees greeted at airport
Witnessing trauma and loss in the war
Syed Ilias Hussaini, another returnee from Karnataka, shared that fear became a constant part of their lives as they didn't know how long they would live. Sufiyan recalled his friend Hamil's death in a drone attack, which served as a wake-up call for them to alert their families back home about their situation. "Hamil, a very good friend of mine from Gujarat, was blown to death in a drone attack. He was part of...team of 24 soldiers," he said.
Families' intervention leads to rescue of trapped Indians
The traumatic experiences and Hamil's death prompted the trapped men to contact their families in India. Their families then reached out to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who facilitated their rescue. Sufiyan had released a video seven months ago, pleading to be rescued. The men previously worked in Dubai earning between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000 and were promised salaries ranging from ₹2 lakh in Russia by an agent.
