‘No contact since July’: 3 UP men forced into Russian Army, claim families

Three youths from western Uttar Pradesh traveled to Russia on study visas last year but have been missing since July, according to their families. Himanshu Sharma, Shakti Punder, and Ashu Kumar were last in contact with their families through phone calls in which they informed that Russian authorities had confiscated their passports and sent them to join the army.

Himanshu and Shakti were from Muzaffarnagar, while Ashu came from Shamli district. The families had contacted the district administrations and the Ministry of External Affairs for help, but have received no response. The three were reportedly staying together in Moscow, with two of them due to return to India in August. Himanshu's uncle stated that Himanshu had planned to learn the Russian language before leaving his BCA course, but after being seized by Russian officials, he has not been heard from since.

Shakti's father mentioned that despite his son's reluctance to join the army, he was still being pressured into it. Ashu's father expressed his fear for his son's life and emphasized that he would have preferred his son to join the Indian military. The agent responsible for sending the youths to Russia is also a subject of concern for the families.