Ambala: As Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India, an anxious family in Ambala is urging New Delhi to intervene for the rescue of their missing son, Mohammad Javed, who they say was deceptively pushed into joining the Russian military.
Javed, who travelled to Russia in August to work as a cook, has been out of contact since October 15, leaving his family in distress. What was supposed to be a routine overseas job, they claim, turned into a dangerous deployment on the frontlines of the ongoing conflict.
Family alleges he was duped with promises of a good salary
According to Javed’s relatives, he fell prey to a network of recruiters that included a retired Indian Army colonel and an intermediary identified as Jeetu, who allegedly assured him of stable work and a high-paying culinary position. Instead, the family says, Javed underwent a brief 15‑day training and was then sent straight to combat zones.
His wife, Kahakasha, made an emotional appeal: “Despite all our efforts, we have no idea where he is or whether he is safe. We request the Central Government to take urgent steps to bring him and all other Indians stranded in Russia back home.”
Videos warn of frontline dangers
Before communication stopped, Javed had sent two videos to his family, appearing in military fatigues. In the recordings, he pleaded for help and accused a Mohali-based agent, Manjinder Singh, of coercing him into the situation.
“I’ve been trapped. Missiles and drones are hitting us, people are dying around me,” he said. “If anything happens to me, hold Manjinder Singh responsible. He took ₹4.5 lakh from me—money I arranged by mortgaging my house. They are sending Indians here to die.”
Families across states seek assistance
Javed’s relatives are not alone. Families from multiple states have approached the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow after their loved ones were allegedly lured into similar circumstances. Many of them, including Javed’s family, travelled to Delhi to collectively request government assistance for the safe repatriation of the trapped Indians.
A cry for action amid high-level diplomacy
While diplomatic engagements continue during Putin’s visit, families like Javed’s hope their concerns will be raised at the highest level. Their appeal adds pressure on authorities to address the growing number of cases involving Indians allegedly recruited into conflict zones under false pretences.
For now, Javed’s family clings to hope, waiting for any word that might confirm he is alive—and wishing that the government’s intervention will bring him home.
