Family Pleads early rescue, reunion
Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, Feb 28: A young Kashmiri man, Azad Yousuf Kumar, has become ensnared in the clutches of the Russian military due to a job scam orchestrated by a Mumbai-based YouTuber.
Azad Yusuf, a resident of Tral in South Kashmir, finds himself trapped in a foreign land, far away from his home, after what seemed like a promising job opportunity turned into a nightmarish ordeal.
Azad’s family, devastated by his plight, is pleading with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene immediately and help secure his safe return to India.
Azad, who lacked any combat training, was coerced into involuntary service and stationed near the Ukraine border, performing tasks he did not understand while carrying weaponries.
In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Despatch, Azad shared the harrowing details of his experience, describing that he was also injured and the months of confinement he endured. All this took place in a foreign country where he was deprived of his freedom.
According to Azad, he and others were promised helper jobs in Russia, but upon arrival, they were forced into joining the Russian army without fully understanding the language of the documents they were made to sign.
He said despite their pleas to be returned to India, they met with false promises of repatriation only.
Azad revealed that there are eleven Indians trapped in similar circumstances, with him being the solitary representative from Jammu and Kashmir.
Azad disclosed that they are being coerced into the frontline despite the extreme cold, and he recently sustained bullet wounds, requiring critical hospitalization. He also mentioned that they are closely monitored by the Russian military, confined to a room.
Azad further shared the tragic news that he lost a friend from India just two days prior. He highlighted the fact that they were ordered to use weapons despite lacking any training in their operation.
Communication between Azad and his family has been limited, intensifying their distress. The use of phones is prohibited, with the fear of punishment if caught, he said.
Azad made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, desperately requesting assistance, stating, “Please help us, please help us, they are taking us to the frontline for war purposes.”
Appeal raised from Family and Jammu and Kashmir Students Association:
Azad Yusuf’s relatives, deeply concerned for his safety, joined the plea for his safe return, urging the Prime Minister and the Indian government to expedite efforts in this regard. They revealed that Azad had traveled to Dubai on December 13, 2023, and lost contact with the family since then. They further disclosed that Azad informed them of being coerced into joining the Russian army.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association acknowledged receiving a response from the Indian Embassy in Moscow after raising the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs. They were informed that the matter concerning Azad Kumar and Zahoor Ahmad has been taken up with the Russian authorities, and efforts are underway to facilitate their return to India.
Ministry of External Affairs addresses media reports on Indian nationals seeking discharge from the Russian Army: “We have seen some inaccurate reports in the media regarding Indians with the Russian army seeking help for discharge. Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities and those brought to the attention of the Ministry have been taken up with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. Several Indians have already been discharged as a result. We remain committed, as a matter of top priority, to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for early discharge from the Russian army.”
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
