The return of mortal remains to a grieving family in Jalandhar has intensified the anguish and demands for clarity from numerous other Indian families whose relatives remain missing after alleged recruitment into the Russian army. The case of Mandeep Kumar, whose body was finally received by his kin on Saturday, has become a grim focal point, highlighting a pattern of uncertainty and delayed information affecting several households, primarily in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
A Pattern of Silence and Unconfirmed Deaths
Mandeep Kumar, a native of Jalandhar with a congenital leg defect, is believed to have died in March 2024, around the time his communications with family ceased. His family only learned of his fate over two months ago after DNA samples they provided matched unidentified remains in a Russian hospital. The official confirmation came on October 15, 2025.
This delay has amplified anxiety among other families who have had no contact with their loved ones for over a year. While unofficial records and contacts in Russia suggest many have died, no formal intimation has been provided by authorities to the next of kin. In heartbreaking scenarios, siblings have learned of deaths through informal channels but are withholding the truth from elderly parents, spouses, and children, awaiting official word and the return of bodies.
Families Appeal to MEA for Action and Closure
During a meeting with officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, distressed families presented a set of urgent appeals. They pleaded with the central government to end the agonizing uncertainty by clearly confirming the status of their missing relatives as either dead or missing.
Their demands extend beyond confirmation. They have sought government intervention to expedite the repatriation of mortal remains, help recover large sums of money—often exceeding Rs 30 lakh—allegedly taken by agents who promised overseas jobs but instead sent the men to Russia, and provide economic support to the affected families.
"Our suffering is not just about loss," expressed one family member. "It is about the silence, the waiting, and the fear of telling our parents the truth without bringing their son home."
Compiled List Reveals Scale of Tragedy
Jagdeep, Mandeep Kumar's brother, spent two months searching in Russia and managed to compile a list from Russian officers and hospitals. This list details 10 deceased Indians and four others who are missing. The information reveals a consistent and tragic timeline: recruitment between January and March 2024, followed by a final communication with families around March 2024, and then silence.
Among the confirmed deceased are individuals like Tezpal Singh (death confirmed July 31, 2025), Vinod Yadav (confirmed March 4, 2025), and Dhinender Kumar (confirmed March 4, 2025). The list of missing includes names like Ajharuddin Khan, Deepak Kumar, and Ram Chandra.
Families state that the men were recruited by agents who promised lucrative jobs abroad. Within weeks of reaching Russia, they were allegedly forced or misled into joining the army, after which all contact stopped. The case of an Azamgarh native is particularly telling; his brother received a death certificate dated June 2024 through contacts but only learned of it on November 11, 2025, after Jagdeep shared the document. The parents and the deceased's wife and children remain unaware.
As Mandeep's family in Jalandhar awaits his cremation while demanding the arrest of the involved agents, their ordeal has cast a stark light on a wider humanitarian and diplomatic issue. The collective appeal from these families is now a call for transparency, accountability, and compassionate closure from the authorities.
