Zubair Ahmad
Srinagar Jan 14 (KNS): It has been over a year since Mohammad Amin Sheikh, a resident of Hajinar Karnah north Kashmir’s Kupwara District, began his heartbreaking quest to find his son, Zahoor Sheikh, who remains missing after being fraudulently recruited into the Russian army and reportedly sent to the war-torn Russia-Ukraine border. Despite repeated petitions to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Russian Embassy, and countless sleepless nights, Sheikh’s search has yielded no answers.
Zahoor Sheikh, 27, vanished in December 2023 after contacting his family for the last time. According to Mohammad Amin Sheikh, his son had been promised a job in Russia after watching a recruitment video online. However, upon arrival, Zahoor was coerced into joining the Russian military and sent to the conflict zone.
“He last spoke to us on December 31, 2023, saying he was going for training and would not be available for three months. But weeks later, rumours about Indian men dying in the Russia-Ukraine war began to surface. We tried reaching him, but his number was unreachable. Since then, there has been no news,” Sheikh said, his voice trembling with despair.
Determined to uncover his son's fate, Mohammad Amin Sheikh has knocked on every door possible.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHis petitions to the MEA and Indian Embassy in Moscow have largely gone unanswered. "We visited Delhi several times, hoping to meet officials and seek clarity. But no concrete information has been provided. It feels like no one cares about what we’re going through," he lamented.
Zahoor is among at least 15 Indian men who remain unaccounted for in Russia, according to MEA sources.
Families of the missing men have repeatedly sought the government’s intervention, emphasizing that these individuals were deceived and forcibly enlisted. However, their efforts have been met with silence from Russian authorities.
For Mohammad Amin Sheikh, every passing day feels like a lifetime. “It’s been a year and a month now. I’ve lost count of the doors I’ve knocked on. My son left to secure a better future, but instead, we are living a nightmare. All I want is to know if my son is alive or... he’s no more.”
Despite repeated appeals, the Indian government has struggled to get answers from Russian officials. The families continue to live in anguish, their only solace being each other as they cling to hope. (KNS)