Bengaluru, 29 July

The death of Indian national Ravi Moun on the battlefield during Russia-Ukraine war has sparked concern among the families of three youths from Kalaburagi who are also trapped there.

Haryana native Moun had gone to Russia in search of a job but was allegedly “tricked” into joining Russian Army, his family has claimed. With Moun’s death, a total of 5 Indians died on the battlefield during the war.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow assured that all Indian nationals would be discharged from the Army soon.

Syed Iliyas Hussain, Mohammed Sameer Ahmed and Abdul Nayoom from Kalaburagi have been attached to Wagner army in Russia-occupied Ukraine for more than six months.  

Nawaz Ali Kalagi, father of Hussain, pleaded with Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help bring his son home. Kalagi is employed as a head constable with Madbol police station in Kalaburagi district. “My son went to Russia on 18 December, 2023 after he was promised a job as a security helper with a salary of Rs 2 lakh per month. Now, he along with Ahmed and Nayoom are asked to fight in the war,” Kalagi told Salar News from Kalaburagi on Monday.

“Last month, I went to New Delhi and met Charanjeet Singh, Additional Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs, who assured me that the government was in touch with their counterparts in Russia and that my son and others would return home soon. But after the death of Moun on the battlefield, we are concerned about our children. We have knocked on all doors but are yet to see the return of our children’’ Kalagi said.

“My son Hussain spoke to me a couple of days ago. I assured him that after the visit of Modi to Russia he along with the two other boys could return home soon. But my son told me that nothing much has been done to repatriate them.’’-Salar News