Over a year has passed since Mohammad Amin Sheikh, a resident of Hajinar Karnah in Kupwara district, began his heartbreaking journey to locate his son, Zahoor Sheikh.
According to KNS, Zahoor went missing after being reportedly deceived into joining the Russian army and sent to the Russia-Ukraine warzone.
Despite relentless efforts, Sheikh’s appeals to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Russian Embassy, and other authorities have yielded no answers.
Zahoor, 27, last contacted his family on December 31, 2023, informing them he was about to start training and would be unavailable for three months.
Soon after, rumors about Indian men dying in the war began circulating. Attempts to reach Zahoor failed, leaving his family in a state of despair.
“He wanted a better life. He was promised a job in Russia but was coerced into the military instead. Since that call, there has been no news,” said Mohammad Amin Sheikh, his voice laden with grief.
Desperate to find his son, Sheikh has made multiple trips to Delhi, seeking help from MEA officials and the Indian Embassy in Moscow. However, he claims these efforts have been met with indifference.
“No one seems to care. I’ve knocked on countless doors, but no one has given us any concrete information,” he said.
Zahoor is one of at least 15 Indian men reportedly missing in Russia under similar circumstances. Families of these men allege they were deceived and forcibly enlisted, urging the Indian government to intervene.
For Sheikh, each passing day is agonizing. “It has been over a year. I just want to know if my son is alive or if we’ve lost him forever. This uncertainty is unbearable,” he lamented.
Despite repeated appeals, the Indian government has struggled to secure answers from Russian authorities. Families of the missing continue to live in anguish, finding solace only in their shared hope for closure. (KNS)