Families of Missing Punjab, Haryana Youth Urge PM Modi to Raise Issue With Putin
Parents allege sons were lured to Russia with job offers and forced into military roles; no contact for weeks.
Families of several young men from Punjab and Haryana, who have gone missing in Russia, have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the issue directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They allege that their children were lured with job offers, forcibly inducted into the Russian military, and subsequently lost all contact with home.
Among those missing is Samarjeet, a youth from Ludhiana, whose parents have been waiting anxiously for any update on his whereabouts. Similar cases have been reported from multiple districts across Punjab, leading to growing fear and anxiety among families.
Punjab Congress MLA Pargat Singh has also written to Prime Minister Modi, urging him to intervene at the highest level. He stated that several missing youths may have lost their lives, and many more remain untraceable. Singh has requested the Prime Minister to take up the matter urgently with President Putin to ensure the safe return of all affected Indians.
Families claim that their children were taken to Russia under the pretext of employment opportunities and were later compelled to join military operations. With communication cut off, the parents have little information about their safety or location.
Relatives of the missing youths have already staged protests twice at Jantar Mantar, demanding government action. They believe that President Putin's visit to India presents a crucial opportunity for the Indian government to push for clarity and rescue efforts.
For months, the youths trapped in Russia had been posting videos describing threats to their lives. However, the complete silence in recent weeks has deepened the families' distress, who now look to the central government for decisive intervention.