Amid the sounds of gunfire and bombardment on the Russia-Ukraine border, Urgen Tamang’s silence is deafening.

The ex-serviceman from Kalimpong, who is in his 40s, was allegedly duped into joining the Russian forces on the false promise of a job.

“Urgen had last contacted us on July 11 but since then there has been zero communication from his end,” said Rabi Pradhan, chairman of the board of administrators of the Kalimpong municipality.

Urgen, who was in contact with his wife Ambika and Pradhan through video calls, had last said that 13 of the 15 non-Russian fighters in the army had been killed.

“Out of the 15 non-Russian fighters (in Urgen’s brigade), 13 have died. I along with a Sri Lankan are the only non-Russian fighters in this brigade,” he had said.

Urgen, who retired from the Indian Army in 2018, had said he was posted with the second battalion of the 144 brigade of the Russian Army.

Urgen’s family and his well-wishers had been hoping that he would be deported soon following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 8.

Modi had reportedly taken up with Putin the issue of putting a stop to Indians being recruited in the Russian Army and ensuring the return of those currently working there.

“Following this development, the silence on Urgen’s end is deafening, unsettling,” said one of his relatives.

The Russian-Ukraine war entered its 373rd day on Wednesday.

“We basically have to locate (enemies) using a drone and then indulge in arti (artillery) firing,” Urgen had said during one of his calls.

Urgen, who was working as a security guard in a private company in Gujarat, had left for Russia on January 18. He had sent an SOS to Pradhan and his family on March 20 before he was sent to the frontlines to fight against Ukraine.

Pradhan had then contacted the external affairs ministry with Urgen’s appeal. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista had also approached the ministry.

Chandru A., director in the external affairs ministry, had said that the government was pursuing the issue. “The matter has been taken up with our embassy in Moscow for necessary assistance,” Chandru had stated in an email.

The external affairs ministry had earlier said each case brought to the attention of the Indian embassy in Moscow had been taken up with the Russian authorities and cases brought to the notice of the ministry had been taken up with the Russian embassy in Delhi.

There are reports that at least four Indians working with the Russian Army have been killed.

Earlier, Urgen had said that job agents from Siliguri had sent him to Delhi where another agent met him and gave him a ticket and visa to fly to Moscow.

“In Moscow, I was received by a Nepali/Gorkha and kept in a hotel. The next day another job agent (who hails) from Tamil Nadu met me and put me up in a hotel for another eight to nine days,” he had said.

Later, he was sent to an army camp, kept there for 17-18 days and made to sign a bond, Urgen had said.

“After that, they took me to another jungle camp where I was provided
training in the use of ammunition for about 10-12 days. They told me I would have to go to the frontline,” he had said.

Urgen’s wife Ambika and his two daughters aged 14 and 8 live in Kalimpong.