Urgen Tamang, an ex-serviceman from Kalimpong who was allegedly duped by job agents into joining the Russian army, has sent out a message again as the Indian authorities have been unable to rescue him from Russia so far.

In a brief voice message, Tamang said: “I have requested my Russian friend to send this message. I am currently posted with the second battalion of the 144 brigade (of the Russian army).”

Tamang had sent out an SOS to the Indian government on March 20 to rescue him before he was sent to the frontlines to fight Ukraine.

Rabi Pradhan, the chairman of board of administrators, Kalimpong municipality, had then contacted the ministry of external affairs, among other offices, with Tamang’s appeal. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista had also approached the ministry.

Chandru A., the director in the ministry of external affairs, had then stated that the government was pursuing the issue. “The matter has been taken up with our embassy in Moscow for necessary assistance,” Chandru A. had stated in an email.

The ministry of external affairs had earlier said that each and every case brought to the attention of the Indian embassy in Moscow had been taken up with the Russian authorities and cases brought to the notice of the ministry taken up with the Russian embassy in Delhi.

"Since there has been no significant development since then, Urgen seems to have provided details of his service (in the Russian army),” said Pradhan.

The voice message was sent to Tamang’s wife Ambika on Thursday.

"The message was sent through his Russian friend,” said Pradhan.

Tamang, in his 40s and a resident of Chibo-Purbung in Kalimpong, had left for Russia on January 18.

In the March appeal, he had blamed job agents for duping him.

"I have been duped by agents,” Tamang, who had retired from the Indian Army in 2018 and was working as a security personnel in a private company in Gujarat until recently, had then said.

Tamang had then said that about two months back an agent from Siliguri sent him to Delhi where another agent met him and gave him a ticket and visa to fly to Moscow.

"In Moscow, I was received by a Nepali/Gorkha and kept in a hotel. The next day another agent (who hails) from Tamil Nadu met me and kept me in a hotel for another eight to nine days,” he had said.

Afterwards he was sent to an army camp, kept there for 17-18 days and made to sign a bond, he had said.

"After that, they took me to another jungle camp where I was provided training in the use of ammunition for about 10-12 days. They then told me I would have to go to the frontline,” Tamang had said.