The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended four individuals, including a contractual translator with the Russian Defence Ministry, for their involvement in trafficking Indian nationals to the Russia-Ukraine war zone. The arrests highlight a disturbing trend where traffickers exploited social media platforms like YouTube to lure unsuspecting individuals with promises of lucrative jobs in Russia.
Arun and Yesudas Junior from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, were detained on Monday, while Nijil Jobi Bensam, a contractual employee in the Russian Defence Ministry, and Anthony Michael Elangovan from Mumbai were arrested earlier and are now in judicial custody. The CBI revealed that these traffickers operated as an organized network, leveraging social media channels and local contacts to entice Indian nationals with the prospect of highly paid positions in Russia.
The trafficked individuals, misled about the nature of the jobs, were trained for combat roles and deployed to the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict against their will. Some suffered severe injuries in the ongoing war, initiated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Bensam played a pivotal role in recruiting Indian nationals for the Russian Army, while Anthony facilitated visa processing and travel arrangements through associates in Dubai and Russia. Arun and Yesudas were key recruiters from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, respectively.
The CBI registered a case of human trafficking against private visa consultancy firms and agents involved in this network, spanning multiple states and international locations. The modus operandi of the traffickers included creating enticing YouTube videos showcasing purported job opportunities in Russia, misrepresenting the roles as non-combatant tasks such as paperwork handling and building evacuation.
Victims were promised hefty salaries after a three-month training period, but were coerced into military training under false pretenses. They were deceived with misleading translations of documents, giving them the ultimatum of facing imprisonment or joining the Russian army.
The investigation has revealed that a Delhi-based visa consultancy firm facilitated the trafficking of approximately 180 Indians to Russia. Efforts are underway to secure the release of these individuals, underscoring the urgent need to combat human trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking employment opportunities abroad.
Sources By Agencies
