A tragic story unfolded on Friday as the body of 21-year-old Samarjit Singh arrived home in Ludhiana, eight months after he left for Russia in search of employment. His family alleges that he was lured by recruitment agents with promises of a high-paying job but was forcibly conscripted into the Russian army upon arrival.
Samarjit had travelled to Russia in July 2025 through the agents, who allegedly misled him about the nature of the work. According to his relatives, he received no military training and was reportedly sent directly to the front lines. The family last had contact with him in September 2025, after which he went missing in the conflict zone.
The young man’s remains were flown to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Thursday before being transported to Ludhiana for his last rites, which were performed on Friday. The funeral was marked by grief and a poignant appeal from his father, Charanjit Singh, who urged other parents to exercise caution before sending children abroad through recruitment agents.
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“I appeal to everyone: do not put your children's lives at risk out of the temptation to send them abroad through agents,” Charanjit Singh said, struggling to hold back tears. “No matter how dire your financial circumstances may be, do not take such a step. I have lost everything.”
The family revealed that they had spent months seeking help from officials after Samarjit went missing, but their efforts did not yield concrete results. Charanjit Singh explained that his son’s decision to travel abroad was motivated purely by a desire to support the family. “Had there been employment opportunities here, my son would never have gone abroad. He went because he wanted to help us,” he said.
Grieving the loss, the father added, “We do not even know what happened to him in his final moments.” The incident has raised concerns over the risks faced by young Indians recruited overseas under misleading promises, highlighting the need for greater scrutiny of overseas employment channels.
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