New Delhi:

A day after it emerged that a Hyderabad man duped into joining Russia’s war against Ukraine has been killed, the CBI on Thursday busted a ring involved in trafficking Indians to the country, officials said.   

Nearly two dozen Indians are believed to have been forced into fighting Russia’s war after being tricked into going to the country on the pretext of getting high-paying jobs. 

The investigation agency registered a case and began carrying out raids at over 10 locations in seven cities associated with the agents and firms involved in the trafficking. The raids are being conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Ambala, Chandigarh and Madurai, and some suspects have been detained for questioning. 

During the raids, it has emerged that the number of Indians sent by these firms to Russia and Ukraine is 35. “It is not clear whether all of them have been forced to take part in the war,” said an official. 

The CBI’s case also names Dubai-based Faisal Khan alias Baba, who runs the YouTube channel Baba Vlogs. Khan’s name has cropped up repeatedly in NDTV’s conversations with families whose sons were taken to Russia and then forced into the country’s war effort after being promised jobs as security guards or labourers, but with high wages. 

Apart from Khan’s firm, Baba Vlogs Overseas Recruitment Solutions Pvt Ltd, three other companies have been named – one each from Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh. The directors of the companies are also accused in the case but it is not yet clear whether they or their companies were working with Khan or operating independently. 

Officials said incriminating documents, electronic devices like desktops, laptops and phones, and Rs 50 lakh in cash have been seized in the raids.