A day after India busted the human trafficking network, which lured several youngsters to Russia promising jobs, the Ministry of External Affairs said the nation is committed to bringing back those who became a scapegoat of the scam.
During the media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, said several Indian nationals have been duped to work in the Russian army.
“We have strongly taken up the matter for the early discharge of such Indian nationals. Strong action has been initiated against agents who recruited them on false pretexts...We remain committed to the early release of our nationals serving as support staff with the Russian army and then eventually return home,” said Jaiswal.
Meanwhile, MEA also said that President Droupadi Murmu will be travelling to Mauritius for a state visit to attend the national day celebration from March 11-13. She will be attending the National Day celebrations of Mauritius on March 12.
“President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Prithvirajsing Roopun, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius Praveen Kumar Jagannath," he added.
According to CBI officials, two Russia-based agents involved in the trafficking network were under the CBI scanner. The agents confiscated the passports of Indians arriving in Russia and forced them to fight with the armed forces, said officials.
The central probe agency's FIR has listed 17 other Visa consultancy companies, their owners and agents spread across India, they said. The agency has booked them under Indian Penal Code Sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and human trafficking.
CBI alleged that even students were duped by providing them admission to dubious private universities in Russia instead of government or public universities.
"They were being trained in combat roles and provided with Russian Army uniforms and batches. Thereafter, these Indian Nationals are being deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine War Zone against their wishes and put their lives in grave danger," the CBI FIR said.
After busting the trafficking network, CBI conducted nationwide searches at around 13 locations in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Madurai and Chennai.
The central probe agency has booked 24x7 RAS Overseas Foundation in Delhi and its director Suyash Mukut, O S D Bros Travels and Visa Services Pvt Ltd in Mumbai and its director Rakesh Pandey, Adventure Visa Services Pvt Ltd in Chandigarh and its director Manjeet Singh, and Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd in Dubai and its director Faisal Abdul Mutalib Khan alias Baba among others.
(With PTI inputs)