Authorities in Kalimpong have approached Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Gorkha Territorial Administration Chairman Anit Thapa, and BJP MP Raju Bista, who is once again contesting Lok Sabha polls from Darjeeling. Urgen Tamang is a resident of Chibo Purbung, ward number 19, in Kalimpong.
“The last time he called was on Friday. He told me to circulate a video and seek help from everyone. He said he was being taken to the frontline to fight in the war. Since then, I have been appealing to everyone to save him. I have two small children,” Ambika Tamang, wife of Urgen Tamang, who lives with their two children, told The Indian Express over the phone.
“He left home on January 18. We never knew they would dupe him and make him fight in a war. I have heard that the central government and our chief minister are aware of the matter,” added Ambika.
“Family members of Urgen approached us this Friday. We have contacted the chief minister’s office, GTA chairman’s office and MP Raju Bista. We are trying to help the family and bring back the man. We are trying to find which agents in Siliguri are linked to this,” Rabi Pradhan, chairman of Kalimpong municipality, told The Indian Express.
In the video circulating on social media, Urgen was heard saying, “Save me. I am being taken to the frontline to fight in Ukraine. I appeal to the Indian government to save me.”
Urgen was promised a security guard job in Russia. An agent from Siliguri sent him to Delhi, where he was given a visa and other papers. He was then taken to Moscow, where he met with a Nepali agent and later an agent from Tamil Nadu.
“In Moscow, I was received by a Nepali/Gorkha and kept in a hotel. The next day, another agent from Tamil Nadu met me. He kept me in a hotel for eight-ten days. Then they took me to an Army camp. Initially they said normal training takes place. They then made me sign bond papers. Then they gave us training in how to fire guns. Now they are saying that we have to go to the frontline and fight with Ukraine,” Urgen said in the video.
In a press release issued on Monday, M Bista stated that he had contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Russia.
“I am using all resources at my end to ensure his safe repatriation back home. I am most hopeful that we will succeed. I also request the people from our region to be extremely careful when applying for positions abroad, and not get swayed by tall claims of the agent,” the release read.