the "life is cheap in South Asia" line is a disgusting narrative. Why is it so cheap because this myth is perpetuated. Every life is significant, the sooner all humans start accepting this the better. And the change comes individually, Modi often talks about how every single Indian deserves a good life so he is talking on a individual level meaning he is trying to propagate the significance of each and every Indian.
Anyway, it doesn't matter if these guys stayed back or not, did they forfeit their Indian citizenship in doing so? No. Were they still Indians? Yes. Did the GoI still have a duty to ensure their safety? Very much so.