Chhattisggarh youth missing in Russia; family alleges pressure to join Ukraine war
Raipur: A youth from Bilha in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district who travelled to Russia in search of employment has been out of contact with his family since Oct 7, with his relatives alleging that he was detained, assaulted and pressured to join the Russia-Ukraine war .
The family of Vineet Kumar Dubey has approached Bilaspur collector Sanjay Agarwal and SSP Rajnesh Singh, seeking urgent intervention to trace him and bring him back safely.
Bilaspur police have written to the Russian embassy and the ministry of external affairs seeking information about his whereabouts and condition.
There is, however, no official confirmation yet from Russian authorities or Indian agencies on where Vineet is, whether he is being held against his will, or whether he was actually pressured to join the war.
According to his family, Vineet, who studied up to Class X, came across a job opportunity in Russia through a Telegram app group and reached Moscow on Oct 1.
His sister Aashi Dubey said he messaged the family after landing and told them he had reached safely.
“My brother reached Russia on Oct 1. He informed us that he had arrived, but we have not been able to speak to him since Oct 7,” she said.
Family alleges he was stopped from reaching embassy
The family claims Vineet began facing trouble soon after reaching Russia.
They allege that he was prevented from approaching the Indian embassy and initially kept at a hotel in Moscow. He was later taken to Volgograd, where he was allegedly kept in an apartment.
According to information, some people took him away in a car at around 7am on Oct 7 to an unidentified location.
His relatives allege that he was then pressured to obtain residency papers and join the war. The family has also alleged that he was warned that he could be implicated in a drugs-related case if he did not comply with the demands being made of him.
WhatsApp contact became family's only source of information
The family says details of what allegedly happened to Vineet came through a man who identified himself as Kishor, who contacted them on WhatsApp.
Since then, they have had no direct communication with Vineet and remain uncertain about his location and condition.
The family has urged the centre and the Indian embassy in Russia to establish his whereabouts at the earliest and facilitate his return.
Handwritten note deepens family's concern
Aashi also showed a handwritten note which she claims was sent by Vineet.
In the message, he reassures his father that he is fine, asks him not to worry and tells him to take care of Aashi.
But the note ends with the letters “OKH”, which Aashi says had a private meaning between the siblings.
She said the two would use “OKH” as a code when one of them needed help but did not want to openly tell their parents.
For the family, that detail has added to the fear that Vineet may have been trying to signal distress while appearing to reassure them.
Police await response from embassy, MEA
SSP Rajnesh Singh said police received a complaint from Vineet’s sister stating that he had been detained in Russia.
“We have written to the embassy on the basis of the complaint. Further action will be taken once a response is received,” Singh said.
Collector Sanjay Agarwal said the administration had coordinated with police and was awaiting a response from the authorities concerned.
The family says nearly three weeks have passed without direct contact with Vineet, and no official agency has yet been able to confirm his location or condition.
The family of Vineet Kumar Dubey has approached Bilaspur collector Sanjay Agarwal and SSP Rajnesh Singh, seeking urgent intervention to trace him and bring him back safely.
Bilaspur police have written to the Russian embassy and the ministry of external affairs seeking information about his whereabouts and condition.
There is, however, no official confirmation yet from Russian authorities or Indian agencies on where Vineet is, whether he is being held against his will, or whether he was actually pressured to join the war.
According to his family, Vineet, who studied up to Class X, came across a job opportunity in Russia through a Telegram app group and reached Moscow on Oct 1.
His sister Aashi Dubey said he messaged the family after landing and told them he had reached safely.
“My brother reached Russia on Oct 1. He informed us that he had arrived, but we have not been able to speak to him since Oct 7,” she said.
Family alleges he was stopped from reaching embassy
The family claims Vineet began facing trouble soon after reaching Russia.
They allege that he was prevented from approaching the Indian embassy and initially kept at a hotel in Moscow. He was later taken to Volgograd, where he was allegedly kept in an apartment.
According to information, some people took him away in a car at around 7am on Oct 7 to an unidentified location.
His relatives allege that he was then pressured to obtain residency papers and join the war. The family has also alleged that he was warned that he could be implicated in a drugs-related case if he did not comply with the demands being made of him.
WhatsApp contact became family's only source of information
The family says details of what allegedly happened to Vineet came through a man who identified himself as Kishor, who contacted them on WhatsApp.
Since then, they have had no direct communication with Vineet and remain uncertain about his location and condition.
The family has urged the centre and the Indian embassy in Russia to establish his whereabouts at the earliest and facilitate his return.
Handwritten note deepens family's concern
Aashi also showed a handwritten note which she claims was sent by Vineet.
In the message, he reassures his father that he is fine, asks him not to worry and tells him to take care of Aashi.
But the note ends with the letters “OKH”, which Aashi says had a private meaning between the siblings.
She said the two would use “OKH” as a code when one of them needed help but did not want to openly tell their parents.
For the family, that detail has added to the fear that Vineet may have been trying to signal distress while appearing to reassure them.
Police await response from embassy, MEA
SSP Rajnesh Singh said police received a complaint from Vineet’s sister stating that he had been detained in Russia.
“We have written to the embassy on the basis of the complaint. Further action will be taken once a response is received,” Singh said.
Collector Sanjay Agarwal said the administration had coordinated with police and was awaiting a response from the authorities concerned.
The family says nearly three weeks have passed without direct contact with Vineet, and no official agency has yet been able to confirm his location or condition.
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