Plea to Indian government for rescue of Kalimpong man recruited 'in Russian army' without knowledge

Urgen Tamang, resident of Chibo-Purbung in Kalimpong, speaking in Hindi in video, has blamed recruitment 'agents' for duping him

 A grab of Kalimpong resident Urgen Tamang from his video, where he is seen appealing to the Indian government for his rescue from Russia

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 25.03.24 : A Kalimpong resident recruited reportedly without his knowledge into the Russian army has appealed to the Indian government in a video message to rescue him before he is sent to the frontlines to fight Ukraine.

This is the first record of any person from Bengal being recruited into the Russian Army.

Urgen Tamang, a resident of Chibo-Purbung in Kalimpong, speaking in Hindi in the video, has blamed recruitment “agents” for duping him.

“I have been duped by agents,” said Tamang, who retired from the Indian Army in 2018 and had been working as a security guard in a private firm in Gujarat until recently.

Tamang, who is in his 40s, said he had been told by agents that he would get a lucrative job as a security guard in Russia's Moscow.

He said that about two months back an agent from Siliguri sent him to Delhi where another agent met him and gave him a ticket and visa to fly to Moscow.

He still believed he was going to get a job as a security guard in Moscow.

"In Moscow, I was received by a Nepali/Gorkha and kept in a hotel. The next day another agent (who hails) from Tamil Nadu met me and kept me in a hotel for another eight to nine days,” said Tamang.

Thereafter, Tamang was sent to an army camp and kept there for some 17-18 days and made to sign a bond, he said.

"After that, they took me to a jungle camp where I was provided training in ammunitions for about 10-12 days. They then told me that I have to go to the frontline,” said Tamang in the 3.03 minute video where he pleaded for help from the Indian government to bring him back home safely.

Sources said Tamang had sent the video to his wife based in Kalimpong.

“The woman contacted me and I forwarded the message (to relevant persons) so that it reaches our chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The Centre, too, has been contacted,” said Rabi Pradhan, the chairman of Kurseong municipality.

Tamang’s family consists of his wife and two young daughters. They are scared and distressed, local sources said.

The sources, however, added that his wife had received another text message on Friday night stating Tamang had been moved to another camp 5km away from the last point of stay.

Since the text, there has been no further communication of Tamang with his family members.

"Tamang had no clue that he was being sent to join the Russian forces,” said a source in Kalimpong, who is known to the family.

Raju Bista, the BJP MP from Darjeeling, said he was aware of the appeal.

He added that he had reached out to the relevant authorities, including the external affairs ministry and the Indian embassy in Russia.

"I am using all the resources at my end to ensure his safe repatriation. I am most hopeful that we will succeed,” said Bista.

The Union ministry of external affairs had recently said every case brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been taken up with Russian authorities both in India and Russia.

"Several Indians have already been discharged as a result,” the statement from the ministry read.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph