Jammu Kashmir Youth Killed in Russia-Ukraine War: Second Fatality So Far | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: A 23-year-old youth from Jammu, Sachin Khajuria, has died in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict, marking the second such fatality from the region in recent weeks and intensifying concerns over alleged recruitment of Indian nationals under false pretences.

Khajuria, a resident of Pallanwala in Jammu, had travelled to Russia on a study visa but was allegedly lured into a non-combat “helper” role before being sent to the frontline. Born on October 3, 2002, his mortal remains reached Jammu on Sunday, triggering grief and outrage among locals and family members.

Family sources said Khajuria had initially gone abroad for education but was later misled about the nature of work being offered. They alleged that he was assured a support role in bunker operations but was eventually deployed in active combat zones.

This incident follows the earlier death of 24-year-old Manjinder Singh from Gowana village in the RS Pura sector of Jammu, whose body was repatriated in February this year under similar circumstances.

Singh had travelled to Russia in December 2024 on a student visa, with the aim of pursuing higher education while supporting his family financially. According to his relatives, he spent several months studying and working part-time before allegedly coming into contact with agents offering lucrative job opportunities.

They promised high salaries — up to Rs 1 crore for a year — and assured the work would be limited to logistics and non-combat duties,” said his cousin, Ravinder Singh.

The family alleges that Singh joined the Russian Army in August 2025 without informing them and underwent around two weeks of training before being deployed. His last contact with the family was on August 20. He was later reported dead on January 28, reportedly due to a drone strike or artillery shelling in eastern Ukraine.

Due to ongoing hostilities, his body could not be recovered immediately and was retrieved weeks later in a decomposed state before being chemically preserved and repatriated.

Both cases have prompted serious concerns among families and local representatives, who claim that several Indian youths have been similarly recruited over the past few years. They allege a pattern of inducement through false promises of high-paying, non-combat roles.

Jaswant Singh, Manjinder’s uncle, questioned how civilians could be deployed to conflict zones after minimal training. “These are not trained soldiers. They are students and labourers misled into war,” he said.

Local residents and political representatives have demanded stronger intervention from the Government of India. Senior Congress leader Taranjit Singh Tony described the issue as “serious and alarming,” alleging systematic exploitation of Indian youth through fake job offers and fabricated assurances.

“The Government must take this up firmly at the diplomatic level. Our youth are being pushed into war zones under false promises,” he said, urging the authorities to ensure the safe return of remaining individuals.

Official data presented in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of External Affairs indicates that, following sustained diplomatic efforts, most Indian nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces have been discharged and repatriated. However, as per the latest available information, a small number still remain, with several reported missing.

The Ministry has stated that it is in continuous contact with Russian authorities to secure the safety, discharge, and repatriation of remaining Indian nationals, as well as to facilitate the return of mortal remains in confirmed cases of death.

Meanwhile, the back-to-back deaths have intensified calls for greater awareness among youth about overseas job scams and for stricter monitoring of recruitment networks allegedly targeting students travelling abroad.

Grief and anger continue to mount in the affected villages, with residents demanding accountability and safeguards to prevent further such tragedies.