A man from Jalandhar has alleged that he was duped by a travel agent who promised him a lucrative fruit-picking job in Russia but abandoned him in a remote forest shortly after he arrived in Moscow.
In a series of five videos documenting his journey from Delhi Airport to Russia, the man warned others against trusting travel agents, alleging that some are luring Indians with fake employment offers and subsequently pushing them towards recruitment into the Russian military.
The youth, identified as Akashdeep from Jalandhar’s Ram Nagar area, said he travelled from Delhi to Moscow on June 15 after a local agent, Pawan Kumar, assured him of a well-paying fruit-picking job, air-conditioned accommodation and good food.
However, Akashdeep alleged that an associate of the agent picked him up from Moscow Airport and later abandoned him at a "scrapyard-like" shelter deep inside a forest. He claimed that several other Indians from Haryana and Rajasthan are also stranded there, with around 10 people allegedly being forced to sleep in a cramped room resembling a bathroom.
Akashdeep urged others not to fall for such agents, alleging that young Indians are being misled with fake job offers and subsequently facilitated into recruitment in the Russian military.
Lured With Promise Of Lucrative Fruit-Picking Job
Akashdeep said he obtained his Russian visa through Jalandhar-based agent Pawan Kumar, who allegedly assured him that fruit-picking jobs in Russia offered attractive salaries and comfortable living conditions.
Trusting the agent’s assurances, he boarded a flight from Delhi to Moscow on June 15. However, he claimed that upon reaching Russia, he discovered that the promises made to him were allegedly false.
Picked Up At Moscow Airport, Abandoned In Remote Forest
According to Akashdeep, an associate of the agent picked him up from Moscow Airport along with around 10 other Indian nationals. He alleged that they were driven into a forest and left there without any proper guidance.
Akashdeep said he was the only Punjabi among the group, while the others were from Haryana and Rajasthan. He claimed they wandered through the forest before eventually reaching what he described as the agent’s hideout.
Stranded In Russia, Forced To Stay In Dilapidated Shelter
In one of his videos, Akashdeep said the group was housed in a small, dilapidated structure resembling a scrapyard. He claimed they were given no information about where they would be taken next or what work they would be assigned.
He said he primarily uploaded the videos to inform his family that he had reached Russia safely.
While showing his accommodation, Akashdeep said he wanted people in Punjab to understand the reality of the conditions he was facing in Russia. He claimed the room had dirty beds, while the toilet was in such poor condition that its broken door could not even be shown on camera.
Akashdeep further alleged that when the group questioned the agent’s associate about being abandoned, he was told that the agent had not yet received payment and would not take them anywhere until the money arrived.
Surrounded by dense forest, Akashdeep said they had no idea how to leave the area or where to seek assistance.
Promised Work Visa, Allegedly Given Tourist Visa Instead
Akashdeep claimed the agent had assured him that he would receive a work visa. However, after reaching Russia, he discovered that he had entered the country on a tourist visa.
When he questioned the agent, Akashdeep alleged that he was told the visa would later be extended. He further claimed that the agent subsequently said his responsibility ended once he had landed in Russia.
"He told me, 'I brought you to Russian soil. My job is over. Whatever happens now is your responsibility,'" Akashdeep alleged.
Akashdeep also said his mother is currently admitted to a hospital in Jalandhar while he remains stranded in Russia.
Appealing to other young Indians, he urged them not to travel to Russia through agents. He further alleged that several agents are working together to send Indian youths to Russia and claimed that young men from Haryana and Rajasthan have been pushed towards the ongoing war after being misled with fake employment offers.
The allegations made by Akashdeep have not been independently verified.
