THRISSUR: One of the two youths from Thrissur district trapped in the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone, i.e. believed to have died during a battle, according to a verbal message received by their relatives from the Indian embassy in Russia.
Family sources said embassy officials confirmed to his wife Joicy, who had contacted them, that her husband Binil Babu (31), from Kuttanellur, fell under the bullets of Ukrainian forces.
However, neither family members nor Non-Resident Kerali Issues The officials of the department (NoRKA) have received some official communication. There is also no communication about when Babu was killed, where and how.
Babu’s cousin Jain Kurien (27) from Kuranchery near Wadakkanchery, the second youth trapped in Russia, also suffered injuries in the battle. Jain sent a message to the family that he underwent surgery and was shifted to Moscow. When contacted, NoRKA officials said embassy officials had not given any confirmation about Babu’s death despite repeated calls.
Babu, an electrician and plumber, and Jain, an auto mechanic, had traveled to Russia on April 4 last year with the help of one of their relatives.
Their agent offered them work in canteens, but this did not materialize. In the end, they had to acquire Russian citizenship and enlist in the Russian army.
On December 16 of last year, they sent a message to the family that they were going to be taken to the war front and that they might not return, after which many interventions were made at different levels for their release.
The head of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Baselios Marthoma Mathews III Catholicos, took up the issue directly with the Russian ambassador to India.
There were reports about Babu’s death since Wednesday last week, but there was no official confirmation.
Reports of Babu’s death have shocked the family. His wife Joicy had given birth to a baby about five months ago and Babu had not seen him.