New Delhi: A family from Jammu and Kashmir has allegedly been left to fend for themselves after they contacted the Indian embassy in Moscow seeking help to locate their missing family member who had gone to Russia as a ‘security helper’ but was forced to join the Russian army on the frontlines to fight the war in Ukraine.
Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh (27) from J&K’s Kupwara district had gone to Russia in November last year after a Dubai-based consultant promised him a job as a ‘security helper’. According to Aijaz Ahmad, the elder brother of Zahoor, the family has not heard from him since December 31 last year.
When the family contacted the Indian embassy in Moscow, they were allegedly told to contact Russian officials seeking information on Zahoor directly. “We are tired of calling the Indian Embassy in Moscow. A few days ago, they provided me numbers and e-mail IDs of the Russian government officials concerned. Some numbers belong to the Defence Ministry of Russia, even they are not responding to our calls,” The Hindu quoted Aijaz as saying.
Sources in the ministry of external affairs told the newspaper that the Embassy has had no direct communication with Zahoor, but has been pursuing the matter with Russian authorities to secure his release. “The request has been made not only with the Foreign Ministry but has also been taken up with Defence Ministry and Security Council. The Embassy will continue to pursue the case till the person is located and released,” an official said.
The family of Sheikhs live in a village at Karnah in J&K’s Kupwara district near the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. The family had already lost one of its members Mukhtair Sheikh, the elder brother of Zahoor and Aijaz, in 1999 when he was posted with the Border Security Force (BSF). Mukhtair was killed in an encounter with militants.
Seeking information on Zahoor, the family had visited Delhi a few days ago trying to pursue the matter with the ministry of external affairs, and to share their ordeal with the ministers there. However, Aijaz said they could not meet anyone.
“People suggested that we go to Russia, but it will cost us at least Rs 10 lakh, and we do not have that kind of money. We request the government to help us,” said Aijaz.
Zahoor’s elder brother said his brother was made to sign a contract drafted in Russian language and was told categorically that he would not be sent to the war zone. But since their last call on December 31 last year, they have not heard from Zahoor.
Meanwhile, the MEA sources said that the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been taking up the case of every army recruit who has contacted them and wishes to return, with Russian authorities, estimating the number of those who wish to return at about 20. The officials also say that the number could be higher.
The process of release could take longer, according to MEA officials, as Russian authorities maintain that the Indians have voluntarily signed contracts to enlist. There are reports that some men from Karnataka and Telangana have also been conned into fighting for the Russian army.
“We are putting all pressure on the authorities concerned so that all those Indians who are trapped there are brought back,” minister of state for MEA V. Muraleedharan told a few distraught families when he met them in Thiruvananthapuram in March this year.
