5 hrs ago
Families Say Three UP Men Were Forced Into Russian Army
Three young men from Uttar Pradesh went to Russia to study.
Their families say the men were living together in Moscow.
In July, the men reportedly called home and said their passports had been taken away.
They also said they were being pressured or forced to join the Russian Army.
After those calls, their families could not reach them.
The families have asked Indian and local officials for help.
One local official said a letter had been sent to the Union Home Ministry.
Another official said he needed to check the documents before taking action.
The families want the men brought safely back to India.
Families of three Uttar Pradesh youths say Russian authorities seized their passports and forced them into military training.
Himanshu Sharma, Shakti Punder and Ashu Kumar have reportedly been unreachable since their last calls in July.
The youths had travelled to Russia on study visas and were staying together in Moscow.
Their families have sought help from district officials and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
A Muzaffarnagar official said a letter was sent to the Union Home Ministry, while a Shamli official said he would review the documents.
- Who
- Himanshu Sharma, Shakti Punder and Ashu Kumar, three youths from western Uttar Pradesh, according to their families.
- What
- The families claim Russian authorities confiscated the youths’ passports and forced them into military training or the Russian Army.
- Where
- The youths were staying in Moscow, Russia; Himanshu and Shakti are from Muzaffarnagar and Ashu is from Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- The youths last spoke with their families in July; the two Muzaffarnagar youths were due to return in August after their one-year visas expired.
- Why
- Their families say the youths were taken for military training against their wishes and are seeking government assistance to bring them home.
Families’ claims
Officials’ stated position
What happened to the youths
Families’ claims
The families say Russian authorities seized the youths’ passports and took them for arms training or forced military service.
Officials’ stated position
The reported official responses in the article do not confirm the claim; officials said they were sending or reviewing documents.
Government response
Families’ claims
The families say they contacted district administrations, the Ministry of External Affairs and other authorities but had not received information about the youths.
Officials’ stated position
A Muzaffarnagar naib tehsildar said a letter had been sent to the Union Home Ministry, while the Shamli SDM said he needed to examine the documents.
Key facts
- People involved
- Himanshu Sharma, Shakti Punder and Ashu Kumar
- Origin
- Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts, Uttar Pradesh
- Destination
- Moscow, Russia
- Last contact
- July
- Reported passport seizure
- The families say Russian authorities confiscated the youths’ passports.
- Recruitment claim
- The families say the youths were pressured or forced to join the Russian Army.
- Reported payment
- Shakti’s father said a Shamli-based agent charged Rs 3.5 lakh from each youth.
Quotes
Pravesh Kumar
Himanshu Sharma’s uncle and a farmer from Muzaffarnagar
“Shakti used to call regularly and tell us about his daily routine. He told us he was sharing a room with Himanshu in Moscow. Then suddenly, he called and said that authorities in Russia had taken them for arms training and seized his passport. He said he had no interest in joining the army but was being pressured into it.”
indianexpress.com
“Our family is fearing for his life. The last call in July lasted just two minutes, in which he said his passport had been seized. I don’t want my son fighting for another country. He is being forced by the Russians to join their army. If I wanted him to join any military, I would certainly want him in the Indian Army.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
Indian Families Seek Answers About Men Recruited Into Russia’s War
Indian Engineer Detained in Moscow as Embassy Seeks Access
India Reports 51 Deaths Among 227 Russian Army Recruits
African Families Seek Relatives Recruited to Fight Russia’s War
Centre asks Punjab to aid families of Russia war dead
Punjab youths stranded in Timor-Leste after Australia job promises
Noida DM Challenges Allahabad HC Compensation Order in Supreme Court
Infant Dies After Falling From Moving Seemanchal Express
Bijnor YouTuber Allegedly Assaulted After Highlighting Poor Village Roads
Krishnavataram Parts 2 And 3 In Development For 2028
