Punjab Men Deported from Russia Expose Immigration Scam, Fear Forced Army Recruitment
Five men from Punjab recently returned to India after a harrowing ordeal in Russia. They suspect a well-organized network of immigration agents and blacklisted educational institutes is actively luring Indian youths to Russia. Some of these young men face the terrifying prospect of being dragged into the Russian army to fight in the war against Ukraine.
Victims Seek Government Intervention
The victims are now pleading for government intervention. They want authorities to investigate and dismantle this alleged nexus. Their goal is to prevent more youngsters from falling prey to this dangerous scam.
Police Case Registered in Ludhiana
On January 8, the Jamalpur police under the Ludhiana Commissionerate took action. They registered a formal case against two brothers who operate an immigration agency. The charges include cheating and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with violations of the Immigration Act.
The First Information Report (FIR) stems from a complaint filed by Sahil Singh, a 27-year-old resident of Patiala. Singh identifies himself as a victim of this scheme. He is pushing for the addition of human trafficking charges to the existing case.
Other Alleged Victims Come Forward
Sahil Singh is not alone. The other men named in the FIR are Rawat Bhatti, 28, from Ferozepur, Ram Kataria, 29, from Nawanshahr, and Gurjant Singh, 32, from Khanna. An enquiry by the additional deputy commissioner (investigation) preceded the filing of this FIR.
The official report states that the agents deliberately sent these men to a blacklisted educational institute in Russia. Upon arrival, Russian police took them into custody. After two days in police custody, the victims were transferred to jail. There, they faced alleged pressure to join the Russian Army.
A Dream Turned Nightmare
Rawat Bhatti shared his story. He always harbored dreams of going abroad but struggled with the required language test scores. Then, he saw an advertisement on Instagram. A Ludhiana-based immigration agency promised monthly earnings between one lakh and one and a half lakh rupees in Russia.
Bhatti and his friend Gurjant approached the agency. The agents assured them of a study visa for Russia. They suggested enrolling in a one-year language program. The agents claimed this course would also permit them to work in the country.
The Ordeal in Russia Begins
Rawat and Gurjant reached Moscow in late October 2025. They went to a hostel, the address provided by their agents. Other victims, sent by the same accused agents, joined them there.
"Russian police took Gurjant away, saying that his visa was fake. I was not taken as I was in the washroom at that time. Gurjant was released two days later. Then we thought there may have been some confusion about the visas," Bhatti recounted.
Detention and Pressure to Sign
The situation worsened on November 6. The group went to their designated college, only to find police already waiting. The officers took them to a police station where about 30 to 35 other Indian youngsters were detained. They all shared one common link: the blacklisted institute.
"On the third day we were taken to jail," the FIR states. While in detention, a disturbing incident occurred. Some men arrived with papers written in Russian and asked the detainees to sign them.
"Three-four youngsters, who were from other states of India, signed the papers. However, I was apprehensive. Fortunately, we did not sign the papers. But those who did were taken away and were never seen after that," Bhatti added.
Families Secure Deportation
Bhatti described feeling like they would die in detention. Thankfully, their families grew worried after days of no contact and began searching for them. Bhatti's mother, who works with the Punjab prisons department, took action. She sent numerous emails to the educational institute and to various embassies.
Her efforts paid off. On November 14, 2025, approximately 30 Indians, including these Punjab men, were deported back to India.
Calls for a Thorough Investigation
"I am sure that it is an organized nexus of the India based immigration agents with the blacklisted institutes to call youngsters to Russia fraudulently, some of whom are further pushed to war front," Bhatti asserted. He warns that without government intervention, more youngsters will become victims.
The group has been persistently visiting the Jamalpur police station. They demand the arrest of the accused agents. They believe that once in custody, these agents can reveal more details about the entire network.
Psychological and Financial Scars
The trauma of the experience runs deep. Rawat Bhatti revealed that some of the deported youngsters are now suffering from depression due to the "atrocities" they endured in Russia.
The financial impact is also severe. He shared that his friend Gurjant's father is paralyzed. With five siblings and no fixed family income, Gurjant had taken a loan of 3.5 lakh rupees to fund his trip to Russia. Complainant Sahil Singh had also borrowed money, adding to their current burdens.
