each case has been "strongly taken up" with Russia.
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of luring Indian men to Russia with the promise of lucrative jobs or university places only to force them to fight in the war in Ukraine.
The suspects are linked to a human trafficking network.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said the four Indian nationals arrested were a translator, a person facilitating visa processing and the booking of airline tickets as well as two “main recruiters” for Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
In March 2024, the CBI said approximately 35 Indian men were duped this way.
While announcing the arrests, the CBI said the investigation “is continuing against other accused persons who are part of this international network of human traffickers”.
The arrests come two months after raids across 13 locations in India.
Aged between 22 and 31, the men were hired as “helpers in the military establishment in Russia”.
However, they were allegedly sent to the battlefield under the pretext of “training”.
It is suggested that dozens of Indians have joined the Russian army.
But a Russian defence ministry source said the actual number recruited in the past year is around 100.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said each case has been “strongly taken up” with Russia.
The MEA previously said it was also working to secure discharges for about 20 Indian nationals in the Russian army.
Other South Asian countries have also warned their citizens against such trafficking networks after multiple cases emerged of people being similarly duped into fighting for Russia against Ukraine.
Sri Lanka said “a number” of its retired war veterans were lured to the Russia-Ukraine war front with the promise of a “handsome salary”, citizenship and other benefits for serving in the army, none of which were granted.
Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry said: “A significant number of war veterans have died and sustained injuries on the battlefield.”
It added that the law would be “strictly enforced” in the matter.
A retired major and an employment agent have been arrested in this connection.
Nepal, which halted issuing work permits for Russia and Ukraine in January 2024, has alleged several young unemployed Nepalis had been illegally recruited into the Russian army by agents who charged them hefty sums for visas.
Officials said at least 200 Nepalis are estimated to be serving in the Russian army and about 100 are missing.
India has refused to condemn Russia over the war, calling instead for dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict. The two countries have enjoyed a close relationship for decades, trading in items from fighter jets to tea.
India has also increased its purchase of cheap Russian oil since the war, with Moscow emerging as its top oil supplier in the last financial year for the second year in a row.
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