Four men from the erstwhile Nizamabad district, who travelled to Russia in search of jobs, are reportedly stranded in a war zone after allegedly being recruited into the Russian military, prompting their families to seek Telangana government’s intervention for their safe return.
The four have been identified as Bhookya Ravinder (44) of Nallagutta Thanda in Munipally, Jakranpally; Sirshu Ashok (44) of Oddera Colony in Sirikonda; Megavath Prakash (40) of Cheruvu Thanda in Dammannapet village of Dharpally; and Mohammed Afzal Khan (43) of Tadkole in Banswada of Kamareddy district.
According to their families, the men had travelled to Russia after being promised jobs in the oil industry. However, they were forced to leave those jobs and seek alternative employment, which eventually landed them in a war zone.
They were allegedly promised by an agent, Thelu Krishna, from Domakonda mandal of Kamareddy, who is working in Russia, that they would work in support services for the military and would not be involved in combat. However, the families claimed that they were later trained in handling weapons and ammunition and sent to the frontline in Russia-occupied area of Ukraine.
“The four men travelled to Russia after agents promised them well-paid jobs in an oil company. After their salaries were withheld, they were allegedly induced to join the Russian military and subsequently deployed to the war zone following training,” said Manda Bheem Reddy, vice-chairman of the Government NRI Advisory Committee.
When contacted, Sirushu Saritha, wife of Ashok, said over phone that her husband had travelled to Russia in February after an agent from Isaipet village in Machareddy mandal of Kamareddy district promised him a job in an oil company.
“He was not paid his salary even after two months. He and three others were subsequently lured into the Russian military,” she alleged.
Ms. Saritha said the family had been struggling to secure his return. She had recently married off their elder daughter while her husband was away in Russia. “I request the government to ensure safe return of my husband,” she added.
Bhookya Nithin, son of Ravinder, said his father had earlier worked in Gulf countries for about eight years before travelling to Russia around seven months ago. “My father went to Russia in search of employment. After he was not paid his salary, he was allegedly persuaded to join the military. We request the government to take steps to bring him back safely,” he said.
The families expressed concern over the safety of the four men and appealed for urgent diplomatic intervention
The families submitted a representation to Chief Minister’s Prajavani in-charge Gadwal Vijayalakshmi in Hyderabad on Tuesday, seeking government intervention for their safe repatriation.
Ms. Vijayalakshmi said officials of the General Administration Department, dealing with NRI affairs, would coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Moscow to facilitate their return.
“We have also written to the Indian Embassy, urging diplomatic intervention and assistance in ensuring the safety and repatriation of the four men. The State government will make every possible effort to assist our residents stranded in difficult circumstances abroad,” she said.
Published – September 29, 2026 08:16 pm IST
