'Save me': Bengal man ‘forced to fight in Ukraine’ makes appeal

New Delhi/Bengaluru, NT Bureau: An Indian man who claimed that he was forced to fight in the Russian army on the frontlines against Ukraine in the ongoing war, has made a fresh appeal requesting that he be rescued. Urgen Tamang, who hails from Kalimpong city in West Bengal, released a new video on July 21 through his home town’s Municipal Chairman Rabi Pradhan.

The latter on July 19 wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that Tamang be brought back to India. Modi, who had visited Russia on July 8 and met President Vladimir Putin, reportedly, brought up the plight of Indians forced to fight against Ukraine.

On the same day, Pradhan wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the issue. On July 21, the Kalimpong Chairman also wrote to Putin and had the letter translated to Russian and delivered to the President through the Indian embassy in Moscow. However, no positive response has been forthcoming, Pradhan said.

“I have appealed to the Indian government several times, requesting that they rescue me. I have managed to stay alive thus far. However, I don’t know what the future holds. I and other Indians still hope that we will be able to return home. All Indians who are stuck here appeal to the Indian government to bring us home as quickly as possible. As long I am alive, I still hold out hope,” Urgen said in the latest video.

He has released similar videos through Pradhan in the past. Tamang said that he was forcibly conscripted into the Russian army back in March this year when he was allegedly duped by agents in Russia who had promised him a job as security guard.

The high unemployment rates in India have been forcing young men to seek jobs overseas often in war-torn countries, including Israel.

At least one Indian died in war

Back in March, it came to light that one Mohammad Asfan (30) from Hyderabad had died in Ukraine.

He was similarly duped into accepting a job as a 'security guard' in Russia, made to sign a contract in Russian and was instead posted as a helper in one of the country’s army units engaged in a war in Ukraine.