OVER 100 INDIANS RECRUITED AS ARMY HELPERS IN RUSSIA: REPORT

Fri 23 February 2024:

The Russian Army recruited around 100 Indians at its Moscow recruitment centre over the past year, according to an official who works for the Russian Ministry of Defence, the Hindu reported.

While speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said these recruits were informed about the associated risks before signing contracts for the role of “army security helpers.”

He said the recruitment process did not involve any upfront charges by the Russian Army and that the actual number of Indian recruits may be higher as the figure he provided only pertained to the Moscow centre.

The contracted period is a minimum of one year with no leave or exit allowed before six months, and the workers are offered a monthly salary of Rs 1.95 lakh along with Rs 50,000 as bonus.

“The workers undergo a psychometric test and are explained the risks before they are sent for training. Since they are hired as helpers, it all depends on the command to which they will be sent. It could either be to the battlefield or they may be asked to work as porters. Their consent is taken. A background check is conducted to ensure no spies are recruited,” the official said.

The paper has earlier reported that at least three Indians, hired as security helpers by Russia, were allegedly forced to fight alongside Russian forces on the Russia-Ukraine border in January. According to one of the men, they were deceived by an agent who assured them they wouldn’t be sent to the war zone.

The workers claim that their passports and documents have been confiscated, and despite desperate pleas for help with the Indian Embassy in Moscow, their requests have gone unanswered.

More Indians, including two individuals each from Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka, sent a video message seeking government intervention, the paper reported.

“I received a bullet injury in my leg during training. They have kept us in a house and plan to send us to the war zone. I have mailed and called the Indian Embassy several times but they are not responding. Please help us,” the J&K resident said in the video.

On January 25, Owaisi wrote to external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and the Indian Embassy in Moscow, urging the government to take immediate action for the return of these stranded individuals.

The Russian official disclosed that individuals from various countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, have been recruited by the Russian Army over the past one-and-a-half years.

-The Wire

______________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22