Mohammed Afsan, a Hyderabad man who was duped into fighting for Russia against Ukraine, has been killed in war.
(Representational Image: iStock)
Mohammed Afsan, a Hyderabad man who was duped into fighting for Russia against Ukraine, has been killed in war.
Although his death was confirmed today by a staff of the Indian Embassy to his family it is not known when exactly he died. He is survived by his wife and two children.
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He is the second Indian youth to die after being duped by a travel agent and drafted into private armies fighting for Russia. Last month Hemil Ashwinbhai Mangukiya from Gujarat died during an airstrike.
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Afsan, a salesman in a clothes shop, travelled to Russia after he was recruited by an agent who runs a YouTube channel called Baba Vlogs.
He was told that he would be recruited as a helper to the Russian government and even promised Russian citizenship after a year.
But when he travelled to Russia in November last year he found himself fighting at the Russia-Ukraine war in the front lines though he did not even receive basic training.
He had made his last video call to the family on 31 December from Russia-Ukraine border. Another man Mohammad Sufiyan who hails from Narayanpet district and was duped by the same agent is still in Russia.
“This is truly sad and sickening. My wholehearted condolences and sympathies to the family of Mohammed Afsan who is from Hyderabad. Appeal to Union Govt to help such youngsters who’ve been duped and caught in this tragic situation by bringing them back,” said former minister and BRS working president KT Rama Rao.
The families of youth, who were duped by the agent, approached AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who wrote to the Indian Embassy and Ministry of External Affairs to bring back the youth. The family is now trying to get back the body of Mohammad Afsan.
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