Damini Sharma
North News
Chandigarh, September 14
At least 60 Indian youth fell victim to a job fraud scheme, many of whom remain stranded abroad. Promised roles as security personnel or helpers in Russia, these individuals were sent there in December 2023. However, their situation quickly deteriorated upon arrival, Times of India reported.
The grueling assignments they faced included digging trenches, firing assault rifles, and handling Kalashnikovs such as the AK-12 and AK-74, along with grenades and other explosives. The toughest challenge, however, was staying disconnected from the outside world, the news outlet said.
“We were isolated, never knowing where we were or where we were being taken. Our mobile phones were seized, and for months we couldn’t contact our families back in India,” Abdul Nayeem from Karnataka told the TOI, fighting back tears.
The psychological toll of living in a war zone was immense. Syed Ilias Hussaini from Kalaburagi described the constant fear and pressure they endured. “Every day we woke up not knowing if it would be our last. The sound of gunfire and explosions was a constant backdrop to our lives, and we lived in perpetual fear,” Ilias said, his eyes welling up. The only solace they found was in praying and imagining a day when they could return to India and reunite with their families, the news outlet said.
Sufiyan from Narayanpet, who recently returned to Hyderabad, recounted his harrowing experience. “We were treated like slaves. We were forced to work 15 hours a day without rest or proper food. Our hands were blistered, our backs ached, and our spirits were crushed. Bullets were fired at us to keep us working if we showed any sign of fatigue,” he said.
The trauma was exacerbated by the death of their friend Hamil from Gujarat, who was killed in a drone attack. “Hamil’s death shook me deeply. He was part of a team of 24 soldiers, including one Indian and one Nepali. It was only after his death that we informed our families about our situation. They then sought help from Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to rescue us,” Sufiyan added, according to The Times of India.
Seven months after a distressing video pleading for rescue from the Russia-Ukraine border went viral, Sufiyan and his companions returned home to a hero’s welcome. Sufiyan was reunited with his brother Mohammad Salman, along with his family, at the airport. “We longed for the comfort of our families and the safety of our homes. The thought of never seeing them again haunted us every day,” Sufiyan said, tightly hugging his brother, the news outlet highlighted.
