Rs 20 Lakh One-Time Payment, Rs 2.5 Lakh Monthly Salary: How Missing Jammu Youth Were Lured, Families Share
The MEA last week said that 202 Indian nationals are believed to have been recruited into the Russian armed forces since 2022. Image courtesy: AI-generated picture via Sora
A one-time payment of Rs 20 lakh in addition to a monthly salary of Rs 2.5 lakh, along with other benefits. What else would an Indian youth from a not-so priviledged background want from a job a overseas. However, all these ultra lucrative offers do come at a cost, a cost of losing touch with family, and being lost in a nation unknown.
This is the story of several Indian youth that have gone missing over the years, seeking handsome job offers from countries that themselves are engulfed in war and conflict. Earlier this year in September, 3 Jammu youth went missing, with the families of two claiming that they were misled into joining the Russian Army.
Now, families of 2 young men from Jammu have said they have had no news of their sons since September. The men were allegedly tricked by agents who promised well-paid civilian jobs in Russia, but instead they ended up working in support roles near sensitive areas close to the Russia–Ukraine war zone.
No country for jobs?
The two youths – Sachin Khajuria and Sumeet Sharma – along with a third man, Atul Sharma, all from Kanachak in Jammu district, reportedly travelled to Russia earlier this year after receiving offer letters for what were described as civilian construction jobs, including bunker work.
Families of the youth have shared that they received offers which included a one-time payment of Rs 20 lakh, a monthly salary of Rs 2.5 lakh, and other benefits, according to a report in Deccan Herald. They now believe the men unknowingly signed contracts that tied them to military-related work near the Ukraine border.
Sachin’s family last had a word with him on September 13, 2025, via WhatsApp, his brother Koushal Khajuria said. “He begged for help and said he and others were being sent to a sensitive location near the Ukraine border. Since then, his phone has been off,” he said.
Sumeet’s family is going through somethig similar, with his brother Mukeet revealing that there has been no contact since September 18, 2025. “Our families are living in constant fear because we don’t even know where our children are,” he said.
Atul Sharma is still in touch with his family from time to time and has spoken to them several times since September. However, he has reportedly told them he has no idea where Sachin and Sumeet are, which has made the families even more worried.
Job-luring trend picking up
This case in Jammu reflects a wider trend since the Russia–Ukraine war began in 2022, with several Indian youths allegedly lured abroad by agents promising civilian jobs, only to be pushed into military-linked roles in conflict zones. Last week on December 18, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told the Rajya Sabha that 202 Indians are believed to have joined the Russian armed forces since 2022, and 26 have died.
The government also said at least two Indians have been cremated in Russia. The MEA has advised Indians to avoid job offers linked to conflict zones and said it has raised such cases with Russian authorities. Families of the Jammu youths, however, say they are still waiting for clear information about where Sachin and Sumeet are and whether they are safe.
In September, the Daily Guardian reported that state minister Satish Sharma, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma, and BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma wrote to External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, asking for urgent action to bring Sachin and other Indians home.
