‘Indians are tortured’

THE Karnataka students stranded in Kharkiv, Ukraine, said that local authorities and the military were assaulting the students and pointing guns at them.

Harshitha, from the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka, who is studying in Ukraine, said that Indian students were not being allowed to board trains arranged to evacuate people from the region. They were being charged $100 (about R1540) to $200 each and even after paying, Indians were not being allowed.

“When the trains come to the platforms, the doors are locked. They allow only the Ukrainians to board the trains. Children are boarded first, later their mothers and then other women, and lastly the Ukrainian men are let in,” she said.

“We stayed in bunkers for five to six days. When we knew that the train was being arranged, we walked for 11km. But, after reaching the train station we could not board the two trains,” Harshitha said.

“About 8 to 10 missiles were fired very close to the train station where I stood. Whenever Indians questioned them about not being allowed to board trains they pointed guns and threatened us.

“After missing the trains, there was heavy firing and we came back to the shelter facility. Since yesterday there is no food and it is morning now and no one has told anything about this. Presently, we are staying in two to three hostel buildings. They have kept four people in one room,” she said.

Harshitha said they had been trying to contact the embassy, but they were not getting through.

“At the train station, the authorities are not beating Ukrainians. Indians are tortured, students on the train were pushed out and beaten up. There are many incidents where Indians were asked to leave bunkers. Ukrainians are telling Indian students that India is not supporting them and why should they help them,” Harshitha said.

"We had to carry our bags containing our laptop, etc, and walk. We kept the Indian flag on our heads and kept running towards the railway station, but it was of no use. When we were returning, the missiles were fired and buildings destroyed. We have been asked not to switch on the light and not to venture out. Our snacks are running out. If we are not rescued now, it is going to be very difficult for us,” she said.

Anish, who returned to Karnataka safely, said: "Indian students are awaiting evacuation at the eastern borders. They are braving snowfall without shelter. There are about 18 000 to 20 000 Indian students in Ukraine, only 6 000 have returned. Most of them are stuck in the Kharkiv and Kiev regions. The embassy is not receiving calls, they need urgent help,” he said.

Meanwhile, the family of medical student Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar who was killed in Ukraine, is still waiting for news of his body. |