- By Vivek Raj
- Wed, 08 May 2024 07:45 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended four individuals, including a contractual translator in the Russian Defence Ministry, for their alleged involvement in a human trafficking network that funneled Indians into the Russia-Ukraine war zone, officials reported on Tuesday. The arrests come after an investigation into a scheme that pushed Indian nationals into the Russia-Ukraine war zone under false pretenses.
According to CBI officials, two recruiters, identified as Arun and Yesudas Junior alias Priyan, were arrested from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, while Nijil Jobi Bensam, a contractual employee in the Russian Defence Ministry, and Anthony Michael Elangovan from Mumbai, were apprehended earlier on April 24. Bensam and Elangovan are currently in judicial custody.
Nijil Jobi Bensam, working as a translator in the Russian Defence Ministry, played a significant role in the network, facilitating the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian Army. Meanwhile, Anthony Michael was involved in coordinating with accomplices in Dubai and Russia to process visas and arrange air tickets for victims.
Arun and Yesudas Junior were identified as the primary recruiters of Indian nationals, particularly from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, for enlistment into the Russian Army. The CBI hinted at the possibility of further arrests in connection with the case.
The agency uncovered a widespread racket of travel agents luring Indian youths with false promises of lucrative jobs in Russia but ultimately pushing them into combat roles in the Russia-Ukraine war zone after confiscating their passports. The FIR filed by the CBI names 17 visa consultancy companies and their associates across India, charging them with criminal conspiracy, cheating, and human trafficking.
How the Network Worked
The trafficking network operated through various private visa consultancy companies, which attracted Indian youths through YouTube videos showcasing opportunities in Russia, including jobs in the Russian Army. These videos depicted roles such as helpers, paperwork handlers, and evacuators, with assurances that individuals wouldn't engage in frontline combat.
Victims were promised three months of training, during which they would receive Rs 40,000, and Rs 1 lakh after the training is completed.
However, upon arrival in Russia, they were coerced into military training under false pretenses, given misleading translations of documents, and faced a choice between imprisonment or military service.
The agents also duped students by facilitating their admissions to dubious private universities in Russia, instead of government or public universities, by offering discounted fees, and visa extensions.
One Delhi-based visa consultancy alone sent around 180 Indians to Russia, with authorities currently working on securing their release.
The CBI's investigation revealed 35 instances where individuals were misled into joining the armed forces and deployed in the Russia-Ukraine war zone against their wishes. Some victims sustained severe injuries in combat.
