K'taka govt seeks MEA help to rescue 3 young men allegedly forced to fight in Russia-Ukraine war

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has written to the External Affairs Ministry for the rescue of three young men from the state, amid reports that they were being forced to fight in Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine, Minister Priyank Kharge said on Thursday.

In what is said to be a "job fraud", three from Kalaburagi district and one from neighbouring Telangana are stranded on the Russia-Ukraine border, after they were allegedly sent to Russia by their recruiters with a promise that they will be working as army security helpers, but were being forced to fight in Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine against their will.

"After it came to our notice that they have been recruited into the Wagner Group (a private military allegedly funded by the Russian government) for war with Ukraine, our Deputy Commissioner (Kalaburagi) has written a letter to the External Affairs Ministry representative here in Bengaluru," Kharge said.

He said he has also spoken to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and requested him to bring it to the notice of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.