In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a man from Amritsar lost his life in the ongoing Ukraine conflict despite receiving only two weeks of training. His grieving wife now makes a desperate plea for the return of his remains, highlighting the human toll and personal tragedies amidst the war.
“I’m finally in uniform,” he proudly told his wife Parminder Kaur during their routine video calls from the Russian camp, showcasing his new appearance. Their communication was abruptly cut off when Singh was transferred to Tokmak city in the conflict-ridden Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine. The last contact she had with him was on March 3. Tragically, he lost his life later that month, fighting in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, far from home and for a foreign cause.
Singh’s lifelong aspiration was to enlist in the Army, yet he faced repeated setbacks in achieving this goal. His hopes were dashed when the Agnipath scheme, which allowed 75% of recruits to serve for only four years, brought an end to his dream. However, everything changed when he learned of an opportunity to join the Russian Army—all he needed was to reach Moscow.
A 30-year-old man from Amritsar was one of two Indian nationals whose deaths in the Russia-Ukraine conflict were confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday. It further stated that Indian authorities have urged their Russian counterparts for the prompt repatriation of the deceased’s mortal remains.
Tejpal Singh, who lost his life on March 12, tragically, his family only learned about his death on June 9. According to a statement from the MEA, two Indian nationals who had enlisted with the Russian Army were killed in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The identity of the second victim has not yet been disclosed.
Tejpal Singh’s father, Preetpal Singh, manages a grocery store in Palam Vihar. Tejpal, the elder of Preetpal’s two sons, had initially sought to join the Indian Army but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, in a bid to support his family, he chose to travel abroad. On January 12, he traveled to Russia on a tourist visa and joined the army there, his wife Parminder Kaur disclosed. The couple, married in 2017, has a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter.
Upon completing his training, he was stationed at the Ukraine border. Kaur recalled that on March 3, he contacted her, informing her that he would be unable to communicate for a few days as he was heading into battle. With no further communication for an extended period, Kaur reached out to the Russian Army headquarters, where she received the devastating news of his death.
The family expressed scant optimism regarding the return of Tejpal’s remains from Russia. “We have received no information about his body. We urge the government to clarify whether we can expect to bring him home,” Kaur pleaded.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. Our Embassy in Moscow has urged Russian authorities, including the Ministry of Defence, to expedite the repatriation of the mortal remains,” the MEA stated in its announcement. The statement also emphasized that it has vigorously raised with Russian authorities the issue of releasing and bringing back all Indian nationals serving in the Russian Army.
In March, two Indian nationals lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine conflict after being compelled to join the Russian Army in combat. Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya, 23, from Surat, Gujarat, and Mohammad Asfan, 31, from Hyderabad, were initially recruited as helpers for the Russian Army but were tragically coerced into participating in the ongoing war, as reported by their families. Their remains were repatriated to Delhi on March 16 and subsequently transported to their hometowns in Surat and Hyderabad.
