Divyang Mandeep was forcibly recruited in the Russian army
– Photo : Dialogue
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Mandeep Kumar, who went abroad in December 2023 with a dream of a better future, never imagined that he would have to face the Ukrainian army equipped with modern weapons. Jagdeep Kumar, a resident of Goraya in Jalandhar district, said that he had sent his brother Mandeep Kumar to Armenia with great hopes so that the stove at home could keep burning.
The travel agent took Rs 1 lakh 80 thousand in cash to send his brother to Armenia. Jagdeep said that his brother Mandeep and four other friends had the idea of going to Italy through a travel agent. The travel agent deceived them by promising them a direct flight from Armenia to Italy.
Jagdeep told that he agreed to go to Italy with 4 other friends of his brother whom he met in Armenia and the travel agent took Rs 31 lakh 40 thousand from those five. Instead of sending them to Italy by plane, the agent deceitfully sent them to Moscow, the capital of Russia.
It was here that the travel agents beat up his brother and blackmailed him that if they did not pay more money, Mandeep’s fate would be even worse. He said that he last spoke to Mandeep Kumar on March 3. In the video call he made, he was seen in army uniform and was showing the military area. Mandeep’s last words were that save him from the Russian army or else he would be killed. Then there was no trace of him.
Here Mandeep’s family’s concern grew even more when reports came that the Russian army was recruiting Indian boys forcefully and intimidating them. There were also reports that these recruited youths were being sent to Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine. Jagdeep said that Mandeep had also told him that where he was going, there were about 40 other young Punjabi boys with him, who were forcibly recruited. Jagdeep said that his elderly parents are very worried about Mandeep.
He said that such news broke him further when he came to know that some Punjabi youth recruited in the Russian army have died. He was worried about his brother Mandeep. Till now there has been no contact with Mandeep and what is his condition?
Jagdeep said that he contacted Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal to get his handicapped brother Mandeep Kumar released from the Russian army and brought back to India. He said that Sant Seechewal has brought back many girls and boys from abroad, who were badly stuck there due to travel agents. Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal said that he has brought this matter to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs through a letter.
Through this letter, he has requested the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene in this matter as soon as possible and take concrete steps for the safe return of the youth forcibly recruited in the Russian army, including Mandeep. He appealed to the youth not to risk their precious lives abroad at the hands of a wrong travel agent without proper information.