Russia has started compensating the families of Indian citizens who were deceived and killed in the ongoing war against Ukraine. Two families have confirmed this information to BBC Hindi, and one family has even agreed to accept Russian citizenship.
Compensation Process Begins
Ashwin Bhai Mangukia from Gujarat revealed to BBC Hindi, “They have already deposited 4.5 million rupees into my account. The remaining compensation of 13 million rupees will be given soon, possibly by the 15th or 20th of this month.”
Ashwin’s son, Hemil, 23, was killed in a missile attack on February 21. He was tricked by an agent who promised him a helper job in the Russian army but was instead sent to the front line, similar to many other Indians.
Deception by Agents
At least 50 Indians from humble backgrounds paid large sums to agents, hoping for good jobs. Agents charged them around 300,000 rupees each, promising helper jobs in the Russian army. The ages of these Indian youths ranged from 22 to 31 years.
Many of these young men had parents or siblings doing small jobs like driving rickshaws or selling tea from carts. Upon reaching Russia, they sent video messages to their families, alleging they were sent to the war front under the guise of training.
Hemil’s story is not unique. Young men from Hyderabad, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kashmir, Punjab, and Kolkata have faced similar fates.
Families’ Pleas to the Government
After the deaths of Hemil and Mohammed Afsan from Hyderabad, many affected families petitioned the central government to bring their children back to India. While Hemil and Afsan’s bodies were repatriated, two Indians remain missing in Russia.
Many Indians who went to Russia for good-paying jobs did not receive their promised salaries. However, Hemil did manage to send home 220,000 rupees after two months of work in Russia.
Ashwin Bhai Mangukia, a laborer in Surat’s textile market, expressed his financial struggles and indicated his willingness to accept Russian citizenship, citing financial difficulties and corruption in India as reasons.
Some Escaped
Ahmedabad’s Sheikh Mohammad Tahir is an exception among the unfortunate; he managed to escape from Moscow before being sent to the war front.
Hope from Prime Minister Modi
Mohammed Imran, brother of the deceased Mohammed Afsan, told BBC Hindi that Afsan’s family was also offered compensation and Russian citizenship. They need to complete paperwork, and Afsan’s wife and two children will receive citizenship.
Families have renewed hope after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of these Indian youths with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow.
Relatives of Sameer Ahmed from Karnataka, who is fighting for Russia, expressed their hopes for PM Modi’s intervention to bring their loved ones back to India.
Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in New Delhi stated that most Indians working in their army do not have valid documents. Roman Babushin, Russia’s Charge d’Affaires, clarified that Russia does not intentionally recruit Indians for its army and has no role in this conflict.
He attributed their presence to commercial interests and expressed hope for a swift resolution in cooperation with the Indian government.
Following the India-Russia annual summit, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four people in connection with this recruitment racket.
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