The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that the mortal remains of the two Indians killed in Russia will soon be repatriated back to India. During a weekly press briefing on Friday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal provided a comprehensive update on the repatriation process, as well as the evacuation efforts for other Indian nationals stranded in Russia after being deceived into participating in an ongoing war.
Delving into the specifics of the return of the mortal remains of Mohammed Asfan and Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya, who lost their lives while fighting in Ukraine, Jaiswal stated, “The paperwork for their mortal remains has been completed. The funeral agency that we have engaged has received the bodies. We are in contact with the families and Russian authorities, and we hope to have the mortal remains in India by the end of this week, around Sunday. Hopefully, by the 16th or 17th, they will be here and then handed over to the families.”
It’s worth noting that the deceased individuals were part of a group deceived into fighting in the war zone. Many Indian nationals were initially lured to Russia with promises of lucrative job offers, only to be coerced into joining the Russian Army and participating in the conflict in Ukraine.
Regarding the government’s efforts to safely repatriate other stranded Indian nationals, Jaiswal stated, “We are actively working with Russian authorities to expedite the release of our citizens stuck there. Last time, we mentioned that there are around 20 individuals who have approached us.Furthermore, strong action has been taken against the perpetrators of the duping scheme.
Recently, in regards to the case, the Central Bureau of Investigation conducted extensive raids in seven cities, targeting a human trafficking network responsible for sending Indians to the Russia-Ukraine war zone under false pretenses. Several individuals have been detained, and Rs 50 lakh has been seized. The agency has uncovered 35 cases of individuals being deceived with promises of high-paying jobs, primarily through social media and local agents.
