Back from Ukraine: Bihar student can’t shake off trauma of war, uncertainty over degree adds to stress
A sixth-semester student at the Ternopil National Medical University, Rishav shared the plight of Indian students stranded in the war-torn country and the subsequent evacuation via Romania by the Indian Embassy.
Most medical students stranded in Ukraine have finally returned to India and must have breathed a sigh of relief but the fear is far from going away. Rishav Ranjan Mishra, an Indian student who recently returned from Ukraine, has not been able to forget the trauma of being helpless in the alien land under bombardment by Russian forces.
“He is fine now but he experienced the horrifying situation in the flesh. Deep down, he is still in shock and will take time to process the incident,” said his sister Pallavi.
The 22-year-old Mishra is from Bihar’s Patna and moved to Ukraine to study medicine like thousands of other Indians. A sixth-semester student at the Ternopil National Medical University, Rishav shared the plight of Indian students stranded in the war-torn country and the subsequent evacuation via Romania by the Indian Embassy.
“When Russian troops attacked the country for the first time and tension started escalating, we decided to fly back to India as early as possible. We reached Romania safely and the people took good care of all stranded Indians, who were desperate to return home,” said Rishav.
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He credited Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan with arranging food and shelter and not the Indian Embassy. However, the worst was yet to come. Complexities began when they reached the Romanian border and were not allowed to cross the border. Starving and cold, they stood in an ever-growing queue for more than 48 hours with their heavy luggage.
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When asked about the efforts made by the Indian Embassy, Rishav said, “Indian Embassy who? They didn’t even arrange food and toilets for us. Many fell sick due to excessive cold and toil.”
“The Indian Embassy failed to take care of its people. I am only thankful for the free tickets to India that Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia gave us at the Romanian border on the third day. The Indian government asked us to stay strong. It’s easy to say but witnessing a war situation is not everyone’s cup of tea,” he added.
There’s not only one Rishav. Several other Rishavs are dealing with extreme fear and uncertainty as their careers are at stake. “My parents decided to send me to Ukraine for MBBS because there are not enough seats in government colleges in India and fees at private universities are exorbitant,” Rishav said.
Hoping the Narendra Modi government will take relevant steps to save their careers, Rishav said, “I believe our government will help the students to get their transfers from the universities.”
Ukraine ranks fourth in the continent for having the largest number of graduate and post-graduate specialisations in the field of medicine. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, there are nearly 18,095 Indian students in the country and in 2020, 24 percent of its overseas students were from India.
Rishav has not forgotten the war-torn home he has left: “We hope that tensions between Russia and Ukraine end soon.”
DMK leader’s son arrested after car rams family in Krishnagiri, one dead
A 20-year-old son of a DMK leader has been arrested for allegedly driving a car into four members of a family in Krishnagiri, killing assistant labour inspector Sivamoorthy.
A 20-year-old son of a leader from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been arrested for allegedly mowing down four members of a family following a heated argument in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district. One person died in the incident, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Sivamoorthy, an assistant labour inspector and a resident of Krishnagiri. According to the police, the incident occurred outside his residence after the accused, identified as Adithya, objected to a two-wheeler parked on the road.
Police said Adithya was driving the car and began honking as the two-wheeler was blocking the road. Sivamoorthy and his family members reportedly stepped out to move the vehicle. During the exchange that followed, an altercation broke out.
Investigators allege that Adithya then rammed his car into Sivamoorthy, his son Kirubakaran, daughter-in-law Amsavalli and granddaughter Nilani. Sivamoorthy sustained severe injuries and later succumbed. The others were injured in the incident.
Besides Adithya, two of his friends — Rithik Kumar and Harish — who were present in the car at the time, have also been arrested. A case of murder has been registered against the trio and further investigation is underway.
Kirubakaran, recounting the incident, said the family had attempted to move the parked two-wheeler when the accused damaged it. He alleged that the men appeared intoxicated and tried to assault them with a stick before the vehicle was driven into the family.
Amsavalli said they had tried to defuse the situation peacefully but the confrontation turned violent, resulting in her father-in-law’s death and injuries to her child.
A police officer stated that Adithya’s father is a local functionary of the DMK in Krishnagiri district. The victim’s family has demanded strict action in the case.
Reacting to the incident, state BJP chief Nainar Nagendran criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, questioning the state government over the episode and alleging that party functionaries were misusing their influence.
Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails
Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.
Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.
According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.
A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.
Metro stations under heightened surveillance
Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.
Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.
The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.
Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.
While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.
Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.
Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.
According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.
However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.
Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.
Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.
University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.
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