Chandigarh [India], March 7 (ANI): Citing media reports about Indian youth "forcibly inducted" into the Russian Military and sent to the Ukraine war, the Punjab government on Thursday wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and urged it to provide help to them to return home safely.
Taking to 'X', the government of Punjab wrote, "Amid media reports about Indian youth forcefully inducted in the Russian Military and sent them in the Ukraine war, Punjab NRIs Affairs Minister @KuldeepSinghAAP (Kuldeep Dhaliwal) raised the matter with the External Affairs Ministry and the Russian Ambassador to India."
"The cabinet minister said that this is a serious matter, which should be resolved earliest as the majority of these youths belong to Punjab, who went to Russia on visitor visas but were forcibly inducted into the Russian military. He informed that one of them died during the war," it added.
Dhaliwal also urged the MEA to take suitable action to provide help to the youth to return home.
"He urged that appropriate action be taken to provide suitable help to these youth to return home. He demanded that necessary action also be taken against the violators of Visa Norms or the Immigration Act. NRI Affairs Minister also demanded that the bodies of the youth who died during the war, has to be brought back. He demanded the Union Government must immediately intervene in the matter. He informed that seven youngsters from India are stuck in the Ukraine war zone," added the Punjab government.
The NRI Affairs minister wrote in the letter to the MEA," Please find enclosed herewith the news published in the Indian newspaper regarding Indian Youth especially from Punjab, who went to Russia as a tourist, but have been forcefully inducted into Russian Military Services."
"I request you to kindly take appropriate action to provide suitable help to these youth to return home and inform us if anything requires to be done at our end," the letter read.
An Indian national who was drafted into the Russian army on the pretext of a job has been killed in Russia's war against Ukraine, the Indian embassy in Russia said on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as Mohammed Asfan, who lost his life in the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that they are in touch with the family and Russian authorities and are making efforts to send his mortal remains to India.
"We have learned about the tragic death of an Indian national, Shri Mohammed Asfan. We are in touch with the family and Russian authorities. Mission will make efforts to send his mortal remains to India," Indian embassy in Russia posted on X.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs urged citizens to stay away from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine after reports emerged that Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian army.
It said that the Indian Embassy has taken the matter to the Russian authorities for their early discharge.
"We are aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian army. The Indian Embassy has regularly taken up this matter with the relevant Russian authorities for their early discharge," MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaishwal said in a statement.
It added, "We urge all Indian nationals to exercise due caution and stay away from this conflict."
Mohammad Sufiyan, from Hyderabad, is one of the many youths who were allegedly duped by some agents and drafted into fighting for Russia in the ongoing conflict against Ukraine.
Sufiyan's family has urged the central government as well as the Ministry of External Affairs to safely evacuate the youths trapped in Russia and also take strict action against the agents. (ANI)
