In a tragic turn of events, Mohammed Asfan from Hyderabad has lost his life after being duped into participating in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Asfan’s death sheds light on the harrowing ordeal faced by nearly two dozen Indian men who were coerced into joining the conflict under false pretenses.
The Indian Embassy in Moscow confirmed Asfan’s demise in a post on Wednesday, expressing condolences to his family while refraining from disclosing the cause of death or the circumstances surrounding his presence in Russia. The Embassy assured that efforts are underway to repatriate Asfan’s mortal remains to India, underscoring the collaborative efforts between Indian and Russian authorities.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of AIMIM, brought attention to this distressing situation last month, revealing that men from various states, including Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh, were lured to Russia with promises of lucrative employment opportunities. However, upon arrival, they found themselves coerced into military service, facing the grim reality of armed conflict.
The victims reportedly fell prey to a deceptive scheme orchestrated by a Dubai-based agent, Faisal Khan, who operates a popular YouTube channel named ‘Baba Vlogs’. Khan, exploiting his online presence, convinced these men of lucrative security jobs in Russia, extracting exorbitant sums of money from them in exchange for false promises.
Abdul Naeem, the father of one victim, recounted how his son and his companions, who had previously worked in Dubai, were ensnared by Khan’s deceitful tactics. Despite paying hefty sums and placing their trust in Khan’s assurances, they found themselves thrust into the midst of war after being coerced into signing obscure documents in Russian.
These Indian men, some of whom received rudimentary weapons training, were reportedly stationed in Ukrainian cities such as Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Mariupol. Accounts diverge regarding their affiliation, with speculation rife over whether they serve within the Russian Army or the notorious mercenary organization, Wagner Group.
The plight of these individuals extends beyond Asfan’s tragic demise, with reports emerging of seven more men from Punjab and Haryana appealing for assistance from the Indian government. One such individual, Harsh from Haryana’s Karnal, detailed his ordeal in a distressing video, recounting how he and his companions were abandoned in Belarus by an unscrupulous agent before being coerced into military service by Russian authorities.
Harsh’s family lamented his predicament, revealing how their son fell victim to coercion by Russian soldiers, compelling him to undergo military training against his will. Such accounts underscore the urgent need for intervention and support from diplomatic channels to ensure the safe return of these exploited individuals to their homeland.
As India grapples with the grim reality of its citizens being ensnared in foreign conflicts through deception and coercion, calls for governmental action and international cooperation intensify, emphasizing the paramount importance of safeguarding the welfare and rights of vulnerable individuals caught in the crossfire of geopolitical turmoil.
Sources By Agencies
