A young man from north Kashmir's Karnah in Kupwara, near the Line of Control, has gone missing in Russia after responding to a job offer. Zahoor Sheikh was lured by the promise of a better future, only to find himself sent to the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war alongside Russian soldiers.
Zahoor, 27, last spoke to his family on December 31, 2023. He informed them he would be going for "training" and out of contact for three months.
However, as reports began to emerge of Indian citizens dying in the Russia-Ukraine war, his family grew increasingly concerned about his safety and whereabouts.
Mohammad Amin Sheikh, Zahoor's father and a resident of Haji Nar in Karnah, said they have been desperately searching for his son but without any success.
He said after completing his graduation in Chandigarh, his son was working at a company for Rs 30,000 a month.
He said he was later approached by some agents, including a woman, who offered him a high-paying job in Russia.
“My son thought he would earn a year’s salary in a month and agreed to work in Russia,” he said.
He said after arriving in Russia, his son learned that he and several other young men from different parts of India had been lured with false promises of lucrative jobs to join the war against Ukraine alongside Russian soldiers.
Amin Sheikh also added that after his son called him home the last time, they tried to contact him but his phone was switched off.
“It has now been a year and a month, but there is no trace of my son,” Mohammad Amin said. He reported the matter to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Moscow but received no satisfactory response.
"We went to Delhi several times and tried to meet officials, but no concrete information was provided,” he recounted. Mohammad Amin learned that Zahoor was among 15 Indian citizens reported missing in Russia. Their families claim they were deceived and forcibly enlisted in the Russian army, yet their appeals have yielded no progress.
Every passing day has become a long torment for Sheikh. "A year and a month have passed. I have knocked on every door, but nobody is helping me trace my son,” he expressed. “My son sought a better future, but we live a nightmare here." He wants to know whether his son is alive.
The Indian government has made several attempts to contact Russian authorities, but no definitive response has been received. The grief of these families continues to grow as they come together for solace in shared hope. For them, time is slipping by, but their battle for answers is far from over.
Waseem Baba, a resident of Tangdhar, who has been highlighting the issues of the people of Karnah and Tangdhar through his reportage said the incident has saddened the people. “Everybody is praying for Zahoor’s safety,’’ he said. The incident has brought to the fore the tough life and lack of employment opportunities for the educated youth of Karnah and Tanghdar living right next to LoC, he added.
