Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 27: The Congress on Friday alleged that 14 Indians who had travelled to Russia in search of jobs are now missing, and urged the Centre to intervene with Moscow to ensure their safe return.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, addressing a press conference in Delhi, said that among the missing are nine individuals from Uttar Pradesh, three from Punjab, one from Maharashtra, and one from Jammu and Kashmir. He was accompanied by two Punjab residents whose brothers have reportedly been missing in Russia for over 18 months.

"Back in December 2023, 126 youths were sent abroad with promises of jobs in Singapore, Malaysia, and Italy. But instead, they were taken to Russia,” Warring said. “One victim’s family revealed that they paid over Rs 31 lac to agents, but their relatives ended up being recruited into the Russian army.”

Warring claimed that nearly 100 of the 126 have returned, but 14 remain untraceable. He showed a list with names and contact details of the missing persons and blamed unscrupulous agents allegedly working in collusion with Russian authorities.

“This is Modi Ji’s Amrit Kaal, where our youths are trafficked and pushed into foreign wars. We demand that the Union government take immediate action, question Russia over this recruitment, and punish those responsible,” he added.