The tragic death of Rakesh Maurya, a 30-year-old engineering graduate from Sitarganj in the Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand, has sent shockwaves through his community and raised urgent questions about the safety of Indian nationals abroad. Maurya’s demise occurred after he was reportedly recruited into the Russian Army, a development that has left his family devastated and bewildered.
In August, Maurya traveled to Russia with the intention of pursuing higher education. However, his family soon learned through communication with him that he had been enlisted into the Russian armed forces and was undergoing military training. As the weeks passed, contact with him was lost in September, prompting his brother Deepu to take action by reaching out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Moscow, urgently seeking his brother’s return.
The family’s anguish deepened when Maurya’s body was returned to their hometown and cremated shortly thereafter. “We kept hoping he would come back. We contacted the embassy and raised the issue everywhere possible, but nothing worked. He didn’t return alive,” Deepu expressed, revealing the emotional toll this tragedy has taken on their lives.
Adding to their sorrow, the family claims that Maurya’s passport and other documents were confiscated upon his arrival in Russia, effectively trapping him in a situation where he had no means to escape. Deepu voiced his frustration regarding the treatment of Indian citizens in Russia, questioning, “When Russia is projected as India’s ally, how can Indian citizens be treated like this? If this is the situation in a friendly country, what will happen to Indians elsewhere?”
This incident spotlights a troubling pattern of Indian nationals allegedly being misled or coerced into military service in Russia amidst ongoing tensions from the Russia–Ukraine conflict. The MEA has previously acknowledged that several Indians have found themselves in such precarious situations and are working diplomatically to secure the return of those still serving.
While district administration officials in Udham Singh Nagar refrained from commenting on the situation, Maurya’s death underscores the broader risks faced by Indians abroad, particularly those traveling on student or employment visas. It raises urgent calls for stronger safeguards, enhanced coordination, and timely intervention to protect citizens who may find themselves ensnared in conflict zones.
