Kalaburagi, 11 Sept

Six Indian nationals, including three from Kalaburagi, who were coerced into serving with the Russian Army in Ukraine, have been released from their camps near the Russia-Ukraine border.

Syed Iliyas Hussain, Mohammed Sameer Ahmed, and Abdul Nayoom, all residents of Kalaburagi, had been forcibly enlisted in the Wagner group, a private military company operating in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, for over six months. Their release was confirmed earlier this week, although their families are still awaiting full details of their return to India.

Nawaz Ali Kalagi, Hussain’s father and a head constable at the Madbol police station in Kalaburagi district, told Salar News, "I have heard that the boys have been released, but I have not received official confirmation yet. I hope they will return to India safely. We are grateful to the Centre for their efforts in securing their release," Kalagi told Salar News.

Hussain had traveled to Russia on 18 December, 2023, after being promised a lucrative job as a security helper with a monthly salary of Rs 2 lakh. His father had travelled to New Delhi last month to meet with Charanjeet Singh, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, who assured him that the Indian government was actively working to ensure their safe return.

On 9 August, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that in the past nine months, a total of 91 Indians had been recruited by the Russian Army. Among them, eight had been killed, and 69 were still awaiting release. -Salar News