6 Indians 'tricked' into joining Russian army return home: 'Released after PM Modi raised issue'

At least six Indians enlisted with the Russian Army have been released from their camps on Russia-Ukraine border ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Vladimir Putin during the BRICS summit in Kazan next month. Azad Yousuf Kumar, Mohammad Sufiyan, Sameer Ahmad, Abdul Nayeem, Kamal Singh and Syed Ilyas Hussain arrived in India on Friday morning. “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. According to the families, these youths were “tricked” into believing they were applying for jobs as helpers in Russian government offices. However, they were forced to head to the frontlines. The IE report stated that Hyderabad resident Mohammed Afsan, who had gone in November, died there. Sufiyan (24) was working at a packing company in Dubai and earning Rs 30,000 per month. The he met an agent who convinced him to apply for the job in Moscow. “But he ended up on the frontlines in Ukraine,” said Sufiyan’s brother. According to him, Sufiyan was almost killed in a drone strike in February. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said 45 Indians have been discharged from the Russian military and efforts are on to secure release of around 50 more soon. “Out of 45 Indian nationals, 35 were discharged after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing. PM Modi had strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals working in the Russian Army during his talks with Putin in Moscow in July. Nine Indians have died while serving with the Russian Army, according to official data. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet President Vladimir Putin during the BRICS summit in Kazan next month.

At least six Indians enlisted with the Russian Army have been released from their camps on the Russia-Ukraine border ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Vladimir Putin during the BRICS summit in Kazan next month.

Azad Yousuf Kumar, Mohammad Sufiyan, Sameer Ahmad, Abdul Nayeem, Kamal Singh and Syed Ilyas Hussain arrived in India on Friday morning.

“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.

According to the families, these youths were “tricked” into believing they were applying for jobs as helpers in Russian government offices. However, they were forced to head to the frontlines. The IE report stated that Hyderabad resident Mohammed Afsan, who had gone in November, died there.

Sufiyan (24) was working at a packing company in Dubai and earning Rs 30,000 per month. Then he met an agent who convinced him to apply for the job in Moscow. “But he ended up on the frontlines in Ukraine,” said Sufiyan’s brother. According to him, Sufiyan was almost killed in a drone strike in February.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said 45 Indians have been discharged from the Russian military and efforts are on to secure release of around 50 more soon. “Out of 45 Indian nationals, 35 were discharged after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.

PM Modi had strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals working in the Russian Army during his talks with Putin in Moscow in July. Nine Indians have died while serving with the Russian Army, according to official data.