Naranyanpet youth returns from war-torn Russia

Emotional scenes were witnessed at Zahur Pasha Syed’s small house here after the family members hugged Sufiyan tight as their prayers were heard finally.

Narayanpet: Zahur Pasha Syed and his wife Nasin Zahur Syed could not believe their eyes, when Mohd Sufiyan, their son, who was stuck in war-torn Russia, returned home safely on Friday night after nearly nine months of ordeal.

Emotional scenes were witnessed at Zahur Pasha Syed’s small house here after the family members hugged Sufiyan tight as their prayers were heard finally.

It has been over two months since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and took up the issue Indian youth stranded in war-torn Russia. “My parents had almost given up and lost all hopes. But thanks to Indian Government, my brother returned safely,” Sufiyan’s brother Salman Zahur Syed said.

After the contract of the Indian youth was cancelled on September 6, they were informed that they should pack their bags and be ready to leave for India in a few days. After all the formalities and documentation was completed, Sufiyan along with five others boarded the flight to New Delhi from Moscow on Thursday. After reaching New Delhi at 3.30 a.m, he boarded a Hyderabad flight and reached home in the night, Salman said.

“Even after their commandants informed Sufiyan to pack bags and get ready to leave, he did not call us. He phoned us only after reaching Moscow airport,” Salman said, indicating the uncertainty.

Twenty-three-year-old Sufiyan is one among the few Indian youngsters, who were duped by agents and deployed in the Russia-Ukraine war zone. Sufiyan was working as a helper in the packing section at Dubai airport when he came in online contact with Faizal Khan, an agent.

Khan allegedly promised Sufiyan a security guard job in Russia.

After visiting his parents here in the district, Sufiyan left for Chennai on last December 17 and then reached Dubai before flying to Russia.

During their stay in Russia, Sufiyan had to perform hard jobs in the war zone, besides fetching water, cleaning the bunkers, arranging firewood.

He could hardly speak to us due to restrictions and constant surveillance by the local army to avoid location tracking by drones or other equipment. His phone call used to last for about two minutes, recalled an emotional Salman, who works as an auto driver in Pune.