The grieving family of Mandeep Kumar from Goraya in Punjab's Jalandhar district finally received his mortal remains at the Delhi airport on Saturday, closing a painful two-year chapter of deception and tragedy. The disabled youth was allegedly tricked by unscrupulous travel agents with promises of a job in Italy, only to be diverted to Russia and coerced into joining the army, where he lost his life in the conflict with Ukraine.
A Tragic Deception and a Fatal Diversion
According to his brother Jagdeep Kumar, the ordeal began in 2023 when Mandeep, who had a congenital defect in his left leg, responded to a Facebook advertisement. He, along with four others, approached agents from Bholath in Kapurthala district, including one named Sandeep Hans. The agents promised safe passage and employment in Italy. The family paid a staggering Rs 31.40 lakh, even mortgaging their house, to secure this future.
Instead of Italy, the group was taken to Russia. There, they were allegedly detained, mentally tortured, and forced into military service. Jagdeep claims his brother and others traveled on tourist visas and were trapped using minor pretexts. The last communication from Mandeep was in March 2024, when he sent messages and images in army uniform, pleading for rescue and expressing fear for his life under Russian command. After that, all contact ceased.
A Brother's Relentless Search Across Borders
With no concrete information from Indian authorities despite providing DNA samples in February 2024, Jagdeep took matters into his own hands. He traveled to Russia twice—first in January-February 2025 for 21 days, and again in September-October 2025. He was assisted by Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, who helped with travel and official letters.
Facing severe language barriers, Jagdeep searched jails, hospitals, and camps. He even faced detention and pressure to enlist himself but managed to explain his mission. His persistence led to a breakthrough in October 2025 when, after submitting his DNA in Russia, authorities confirmed Mandeep had died and his body was in a Russian hospital. The remains were then repatriated to India.
Allegations of a Larger Crisis and Calls for Action
Jagdeep Kumar's harrowing experience led him to uncover what he believes is a widespread crisis. While official Indian figures suggest around 200 Indians were recruited by the Russian army, Jagdeep alleges the real number is much higher. He claims 700-800 Indians are in Russian jails, with a similar number forced into the army. He possesses a list of 14 Indians, where 10 are confirmed dead and the rest missing.
He alleges that recruits receive minimal training—sometimes less than a week—before being sent to the frontlines. The grieving family has now appealed to the Centre to thoroughly investigate the matter, fix accountability, and prevent further exploitation of vulnerable youths seeking opportunities abroad. "A two-year wait has ended in an irreparable loss. At least I was able to bring my brother back home," said Jagdeep.
