From Dubai to Ukrainian battleground: How are young Indians 'duped'?

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - In December last year, when 23-year-old-Mohammad Sufiyan went to Russia from the southern Indian state of Telangana for a job as a "government helper," little did he know that weeks later, he would find himself caught in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Two months later, he is now asking his family back in India to push for the government to bring him home.

The Indian government confirmed that several of the country's nationals have "signed up" for support jobs with the Russian army as it continues to wage its "special military operation" against Ukraine, now in its third year since it began on Feb. 24, 2022.

According to his family, Sufiyan was duped by an agent in Dubai, who offered the post without revealing that he and others like him would end up working with the Russian Army in the midst of the ongoing conflict.

- 'Good salary and other benefits'

"They were not told this position is for the Russian Army. The agent promised a good salary and other benefits, which resulted in my brother leaving his job in Dubai and deciding to move to Russia as a government helper," Sufiyan's brother, Mohammad Salman, told Anadolu.

Salman said his brother and five other young Indian workers who made the trip started growing suspicious when they were taken in for arms training. "They found later that agents didn't tell them the exact story and the job was working with the Russian Army," he said.

Having spoken to his brother earlier this week, Salman said they want Indian authorities to rescue them as soon as possible.

"They are waiting eagerly to come back home," he said. "Our family is waiting to see him soon."

Hoping to spare them the fear for their son's safety, Salman has so far avoided telling their elderly parents of Sufiyan's situation. "They don't know that one of their colleagues has lost his life. They will get too stressed," said Salman. "We have told them we are calling him back because there is too much snow there and the agent has duped them."

- Killed in missile strike

In neighboring Karnataka state, three more families are waiting with the same anguish.

Syed Nawaz Ali, the father of Mohammad Ilyas, said he had spoken to his son earlier this week and that he told them he was not in a safe area.

"My son was working in Dubai until he met an agent, who promised him a good job in Russia," Ali told Anadolu.

He said his son came home before leaving for Russia in mid-December. "He didn't call for many days and later when he called, we came to know that the agent didn't tell him that it was a job for the Russian army," he said.

The family has approached some local politicians in the hopes of their son's safe arrival home. "We are just waiting for the government to make efforts so our son comes back to India soon," he said.

While several concerned families are anxiously seeking their son's safe return, the parents of Hemil Mangukiya, the deceased young man in western Gujarat state, are waiting for his dead body.

Mangukiya, who had gone to Russia in December, was reportedly killed in a missile strike on Feb. 21, according to his family.

"We came to know about his death due to a missile attack through another family whose son is also stuck there. We now want his body to be brought to India. Government has said they are working on it," father Ashwin Mangukiya told Anadolu.

He said that before heading to Russia, his son was working in the family's embroidery business. "I spoke to him on Feb. 20 and that day he said he was fine," said Mangukiya. They learned of his death a day later.

- About 20 Indians stuck, government confirms

According to Indian officials, roughly 20 of the country's nationals are stranded in Russia, having gone to work as support staff or helpers with the Russian army.

"We are trying our level best for their early discharge. We have also told people not to venture in the war zone or get caught into situations which are difficult. So that is where it is," India's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.

"We are trying our best and we are in regular touch with Russian authorities both here in New Delhi and also in Moscow and we are trying to do our best. We are deeply committed to the welfare of all our Indians," he said.