Brother of Goraya man missing in Russia returns

On April 3, Goraya-based Jagdeep Kumar had reached Russia to look for his missing brother Mandeep Kumar who is believed to be stuck in the warzone. Now, almost a month later, Jagdeep is back empty-handed. He has no information about his brother's whereabouts yet, but has pledged to go back again, no matter what.

He also alleged that three agents, who are residents of Russia, duped his brother and Mandeep was given 15-day training of sniper and he was made to sign the contract in Russian language when his brother didn't even know the language. He also filed a complaint against the agents in a Moscow police station. "My brother was told that he would be hired as a helper or cook, but he was instead sent to the warzone," Jagdeep said.

"The days in Russia were tough. The language was not understandable. Officials from the Indian Embassy had just told me that my brother was missing," he told The Tribune. "I also visited the office of the Defense Ministry there.

"I will again go to Russia again after a month to know about my brother, as the Russian government has given us a time of 30 days," he added.

Before going to Russia, he had met Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal and an official from the Ministry of External Affairs in this regard. He had last talked to his brother in March 2024. When Jagdeep was in Russia, her family members were worried about him as well. "Already one son is missing and is stuck there, I was praying every day for the safe return of Jagdeep as well," the mother of Jagdeep said.