LETANG: Nestled in the picturesque village of Letang in Morang, 39-year-old Tika Gurung once owned his motorcycle garage.

Having operated the garage for about six years, Tika faced financial challenges, prompting him to sell the business and contemplate a career change.

Upon selling the garage, Tika considered going abroad for new opportunities.

However, Letang experienced a surge in fraudulent activities related to recruitment into the Russian army, complicating the plans of individuals like Tika.

Unscrupulous middlemen persist in running deceptive enterprises in Letang, exploiting unsuspecting individuals with promises of lucrative ventures.

These middlemen employ various tactics, ranging from falsely presenting opportunities as networking businesses to misleading claims about producing rosaries in India.

Victims are coerced into providing funds under the guise of future gains, reminiscent of a recent incident where Letang youths sold tractors to brokers, enticed by the prospect of creating fake Bhutanese refugees bound for America.

In the latest development, middlemen are directly involved in the sale of young men to the Russian army.

Tika from Letang, seeking a change in his fortunes, found a potential opportunity to go to Russia through a friend’s contact last August.

His friend in Russia conveyed a proposition involving a three-month training program, followed by potential involvement in a conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

About a dozen from ward No. 3 have also reached Russia, most of them utilizing illegal routes through India and Dubai.

Tika, enticed by the promise of financial gains, departed for Russia via Dubai on October 21 after depositing a significant amount in his friend’s account.

Unfortunately, Tika has lost contact with his family since then.

Anesh, Tika’s brother, reveals that Tika, upon reaching Russia, was moved from a camp to an undisclosed war-torn location.

While there was a phone conversation on December 11, all attempts at communication since then have been unsuccessful.

Similar stories unfold, such as that of 33-year-old Bikash Rai from Letang-3, who left his minor son behind to go to Russia.

Encouraged by a village friend currently in Russia, Bikash’s mother, Pancha Kumari Rai, expresses concern over the lack of news about her son for the past two months.

Bikash, who conversed with his family, has been out of contact for four weeks, leaving loved ones anxious about his well-being.

She reports that news has emerged about Nepalis falling under the control of the Ukrainian army.

She expresses concern, stating, “They say our son has been detained by the Ukrainian army. How can we locate him after searching the village?”

Recent reports indicate that Suraj Magrati from Letang-2, who flew from Kathmandu to join the Russian army, sustained injuries a few days ago.

Tej Prasad Timalsina, Ward President of Letang Municipality-2, shared with Khabarhub an unconfirmed account suggesting that Suraj was wounded by Ukrainian army gunfire during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In an audio message, Suraj confirms being shot and undergoing treatment at a hospital, pleading for assistance to rescue himself from the situation.

Tika, Bikas, and Suraj embarked on their journey to Russia through an illegal route with hopes of making quick money.

Local residents observe a rising trend of young individuals from Letang Municipality joining the Russian army.

Since the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war, young entrepreneurs have been traveling to Dubai on tourist visas and then proceeding to Moscow.

Despite pleas for rescue from some youths in Ilam and Jhapa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not taken any proactive steps.

According to locals and their relatives, approximately two dozen young people from Letang alone have become mercenary soldiers in the Russian army.

About a dozen from ward No. 3 have also reached Russia, most of them utilizing illegal routes through India and Dubai.

Despite their family members joining the Russian army, some families prefer to keep their identities undisclosed.

The municipality lacks precise statistics on the number of young people who have reached Russia from Letang.

Bhupendra Kumar Lawati, the Mayor of Letang Municipality, acknowledges hearing about some young people joining the Russian army, estimating that 18 youths from Letang town may have participated.

However, he notes that no official requests for rescue or search operations have been received by the municipality.

“We have received information through various media channels and social media that many young people from Letang have joined the Russian army,” Mayor Lavati informed Khabarhub.

He added, “Following this, we will initiate the process of requesting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their rescue.”

Due to the government’s diplomatic shortcomings, the fate of those wounded and taken hostage in the Russia-Ukraine war remains unknown.

Despite the reported deaths of more than 11 Nepalis, the government has yet to repatriate any bodies.

Gangaraj Moktan from Ilam in the Koshi province also lost his life in the Russia-Ukraine war some time ago.

Despite pleas for rescue from some youths in Ilam and Jhapa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not taken any proactive steps.

The returning youths claim that Nepalis are being unfairly made scapegoats in this conflict.

Recently, four individuals from Letang who joined the Russian army have returned to Nepal.

Among them are 32-year-old Mansher Rai and Chhatra Magar from Letang-3.

Mansher reveals that two more individuals have also returned.

He shares that those traveling to Moscow via Delhi and Dubai to join the Russian army typically pay brokers between five to nine lakh rupees.

Mansher, who harbored dreams of becoming a ‘Lahure,’ faced repeated failures in attempts to secure a position with the Singapore Police.

Witnessing numerous young men from his village joining the Russian army, Mansher decided to go to Russia after a relative in the Russian army assured him of minimal risks. Upon reaching Moscow, he signed an agreement to join the army.

Despite leaving behind his two children, wife, and elderly parents, Mansher, who came to Russia as a mercenary, found the conditions untenable.

She states, “There are elderly parents at home, and my brother is kept in a bunker over there. He went with a dream, but now the Russian army is subjecting them to torture. The government should take the initiative to bring them home.”

He was unexpectedly transferred from Moscow to a camp, where preparations were made to deploy him to a war-torn area after just 15 days of general exercises, contrary to the promised three months of training.

While en route from the camp to the war-torn area, Mansher found himself grappling with thoughts of his family’s well-being.

He pondered, “Who will support my family while we are fighting in another country, on different soil? If something were to happen to me, how would they survive?”

Overwhelmed by this concern, he decided to escape from the camp during transit to the conflict zone and successfully returned to Nepal.

His journey took him from Moscow to Azerbaijan, and finally, to Delhi.

Mansher didn’t return alone; he actively discouraged some village youths from signing the army agreement.

He explains, “After highlighting the heightened risks involved, four friends chose to return with me.”

Unfortunately, some individuals who opted for a similar return have not only faced the emotional toll but have also lost the money they invested in their journey to Russia.

Struggling to recover their funds, some victims are facing resistance from unscrupulous brokers who refuse to refund the money.

Families of these youths have appealed to the government, urging them to facilitate the return of their sons who were recruited into the Russian army.

Suraj, currently in Russia and injured, has sent an audio message expressing his desire to come home.

Relatives of these young recruits, engaging in a risky venture contrary to Nepal’s foreign policy, implore the government to swiftly rescue their missing and injured children.

Pancha Kumari Rai, 55, the mother of missing Bikash, pleads with the government to bring her son back safely, emphasizing, “The breadwinner of the family is missing. I implore the Nepalese government to ensure the safe return of my son.”

Suraj’s sister, aware of her injured brother’s plea to come home, also appeals to the government to take immediate action.

She states, “There are elderly parents at home, and my brother is kept in a bunker over there. He went with a dream, but now the Russian army is subjecting them to torture. The government should take the initiative to bring them home.”