Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Oct 12: Uncertainty has deepened over the safe return of three youth from Jammu district, who, along with 12 others from across the country, were allegedly duped into joining the Russian Army on the pretext of lucrative jobs and later deployed at front-line positions along the Ukraine border.
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The anxious families of these youth stated that weeks have passed without any communication or clear updates about their safety.
They also claimed that local representatives who they shared their grievances with have only informed them that talks with concerned authorities in India and Moscow are “still underway, thus further worries about their safety in a war zone.”
“My family has met local MLA and Minister Satish Sharma and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma several times, seeking an update regarding my brother’s return, but every time we are told the same thing-that efforts are being made to bring them back. We just want to hear our boys’ voices again,” said Koushal Khajuria, brother of one of the missing youth Sachin Khajuria, son of Banarsi Lal of Pahariwala, Khour.
MP Jugal Kishore Sharma confirmed that he had met the distressed families several times and had taken up the matter with the Secretary, External Affairs Ministry, and External Affairs Minister through email.
However, he said there has been no fresh update on the issue so far.
MLA Khour and Minister Satish Sharma also said he had raised the matter with authorities in Moscow, who assured him that efforts were being made to trace the missing youth, but no update has been received yet.
The three youth-Sachin Khajuria of Pahariwala, Khour; Atul from Bawe Tallab, Mishriwala; and Sumit Sharma from Kanachak-were among 15 Indian students allegedly lured by an agent named Anastiya, who offered them jobs in bunker construction near the Ukrainian border with promises of a one-time payment of Rs 20 lakh and a monthly salary of Rs 2.5 lakh.
After realizing they had been deceitfully deployed at front-line posts, the youth made distressed WhatsApp calls to their families seeking Government intervention.
However, the families claimed no fresh contact has been made in recent weeks.
Koushal Khajuria said Atul last messaged his family on October 5, informing them that the youth had been deployed to different front-line posts, apparently to prevent them from contacting one another.
“Atul told me that he had no idea about my brother Sachin or Sumit Sharma but urged us to push the Government to intervene more strongly for their safe return,” Koushal added.
As such, Koushal requested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, EAM S Jaishankar, LG Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to further take up the matter with the Russian authorities for the timely and safe return of his brother, along with other youth of the region.
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