New Delhi: A second Indian died fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine.
According to officials, Mohammed Asfan from Hyderabad was allegedly forced to join the Russian Army after falling prey to a job fraud.
The 30-year-old Asfan is survived by his wife and two children.
Asfan’s family had reached out to AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi to help bring him back from Russia.
However, when AIMIM contacted the Indian Embassy in Moscow, it was confirmed that Asfan had died.
Asfan and several others were allegedly misled by fraudulent agents who recruited them as ‘helpers’ to assist the Russian Army in the war.
Ten days ago, 23-year-old Hamil Mangukiya, who was also working as a ‘helper’ with Russian Army, died in Russia.
Mangukiy, from Surat, had applied for a job in Russia through an online advertisement, and was recruited as an assistant in Russian Army.
He lost his life in an airstrike by Ukraine on February 21 in Donetsk region of the Russia-Ukraine border.
Several Indians have been lured to Russia to work as security helpers in the Russian military, with some being forced to fight against Ukrainian soldiers.
“It is our understanding that there are 20-odd people (Indians) who have gone there to work as support staff or as helpers with the Russian army,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on February 29, adding that the government is trying its “level best for their early discharge.”
