Indian citizens from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu were reportedly deceived by travel agents promising civilian jobs, leading them to be fraudulently recruited into the Russian armed forces. Families of 24 such youths stranded in Russia met with Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) President Hanuman Beniwal in Delhi. The families expressed deep concern about the safety and well-being of their loved ones.
Lok Sabha MP Beniwal stated that the families are facing extreme mental distress due to the lack of information about the stranded youths. He has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh seeking urgent intervention. Beniwal highlighted that out of 211 Indian citizens involved, 121 have been repatriated, 63 are still in service, and 27 have lost their lives tragically.
Beniwal emphasized the seriousness of the situation and urged the Indian government to prioritize the safety and repatriation of the remaining citizens. He called for support to the families and transparent communication regarding the missing youths. Previously, Beniwal had urged diplomatic efforts for the safe return of Indian students from Russia, highlighting the humanitarian crisis. He pointed out that these youths, who were initially on study and work visas, were misled into military roles in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
