New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday conducted raids at several travel agencies and visa consultancy firms in seven cities across India after there were allegations that these companies had tricked young Indians, sending them unwittingly to the frontlines of Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The CBI said in a statement Thursday that it had conducted raids at several firms in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Ambala, Chandigarh, Madurai, and Chennai. The agency added that some people had been detained but didn’t specify how many.
The raids came a day after the agency registered a case of human trafficking.
According to agency sources, at least 35 people had been hoodwinked into going to the Russian frontlines under the false promise of lucrative jobs.
The raids follow reports of at least two Indian men having died while fighting in the war. Days after this, seven men from Punjab and Haryana, all between the ages of 20 and 24, had posted a plea on social media claiming that they had been deceived into joining the Russian frontlines and sought intervention from Indian authorities.
According to a video circulated earlier this month, these men had allegedly been on a trip to Russia in December when their travel agent allegedly persuaded them to go to Belarus without a visa and then abandoned them. When they were caught, the Belarusian authorities allegedly handed them over to the Russian army, who in turn forced them to join the Russian frontlines.
“An agent offered to take us to Belarus. We didn’t know we needed a visa. When we went there, the agent asked us for more money and then abandoned us. Police caught us and handed us over to Russian authorities, who made us sign documents,” one of the men, who identified himself as 19-year-old Harsh from Haryana’s Karnal, said in the 105-second video that eventually circulated on X.
ThePrint hasn’t independently verified the video.
23-year-old man who said he is from #Gurdaspur #Punjab #GagandeepSingh called @ndtv @ndtvindia to appeal to @MEAIndia @states_mea @DrSJaishankar to help them return to India; says 7 of them who met in Russia may be deployed any time, without any training, to fight war in #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/re6eFuyY1v
— Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) March 4, 2024
In a press conference held on 29 February, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian government had information that “20-odd people are stuck” this way.
“We are trying our level best for their early discharge. We have also told people not to venture into the war zone or get caught into (sic) difficult situations. We are in regular touch with Russian authorities, both here in New Delhi and in Moscow,” said Jaiswal.
This statement came after a man from Gujarat, identified by media reports as Hamil Mangukiya, was allegedly killed while fighting for the Russian army in Donetsk on the Russia-Ukraine border. Mangukiya had allegedly been promised a job as a “security helper” in the Russian army but had eventually been conscripted.
According to the agency sources, several travel agencies and visa consultancy firms, such as Delhi-based company 24×7 RAS Overseas Foundation, the Mumbai-based O.S.D Bros Travels & Visa Services Pvt Ltd, and Chandigarh-based Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd, are being investigated for trafficking.
A Dubai-based company identified as Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd is also under the scanner, sources said.
The agency has also allegedly impounded Rs 50 lakh, some “incriminating documents” and electronic records devices such as laptops, mobiles, and desktops during the raids.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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