As per the information from the victim’s relatives, both were taken from India to Russia by a recruitment agency with the pretext of giving a large salary of Rs 2.5 lakh.
Both of them are Kerala-based youths who returned to Delhi on Monday and fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine after being recruited into the Russian army by private agencies. The return of two Indian nationality was possible when the Ministry of External Affairs meddled in the matter. As per the media reports, the two were identified as David Muthappan, a resident of Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram, and Prince Sebastian, a resident of Anchuthengu, who was returned to Delhi. Both victims will be shipped to the state following a proper investigation.
Last week, V Muraleedharan, Union Minister of State (Mos) for External Affairs, confirmed that both of them would be returning to India. He also stated that the Indian Embassy was preparing their travel documents to return from Russia. The MoS stated the External Affairs Ministry was in talks with the Russian government to bring them back as well regarding the two more residents of India. He stated that rest assured, we are taking strong measures to ensure their return.
Before this, Muraleedharan, the Union Minister of State, stated that authorities had started an investigation into the agencies that recruited Indians to go to war-torn Ukraine after persuading them with the pretext of lucrative jobs in Russia. He had also added that the central government is making all possible efforts to bring back all Indians who are stuck in the conflict zone, and procedures are underway to take legal action against the agencies that recruited them.