 "Ajit Singh Chaudhary reportedly left his hostel around 11 am on October 19.")
Hailing from Kafanwada village in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, a 22-year-old student Ajit Singh Chaudhary, went to Russia with a big dream. He was studying at Bashkir State Medical University in Ufa city. On October 19, the medical student left his house around 11 am but never returned, according to sources.
After 19 days, Chaudhary’s body was recovered from a dam in Russia on Thursday (November 7). After authorities found his clothes, phone and shoes on the riverbank, a search operation was launched.
Distraught by the news, Chaudhary’s family is now demanding a full-fledged inquiry from the Russian government. However, the Indian embassy in Russia has not issued any official statement regarding this case.
So what exactly happened to the 22-year-old? Where does the investigation stand so far? Here’s what we know.
What happened on October 19?
Ajit Singh Chaudhary had been living in Russia since 2023, when his medical course began. According to several sources, on October 19, he left his hostel around 11 am, telling his friend that he was stepping outside to buy milk. However, he never returned. Chaudhary had spoken to his family just an hour before he went missing.
On October 20, Chaudhary’s uncle Bhoom Singh told The New Indian Express that the family received a call from the Russian police. However, it is unclear what information was passed on to the family.
“Later, his (Chaudhary’s) roommate informed the hostel warden about Ajit’s disappearance, but now even the warden is not responding properly. We tried to reach out to college authorities, but haven’t received any reply yet. We are completely in the dark about what has happened to Ajit,” Singh was quoted as saying.
Devastated by the news of Chaudhary’s disappearance, the family members reached out to Union Minister Bhuprendra Yadav. They also appealed to the Alwar District Collector to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhere does the investigation stand?
Authorities found the Indian student’s clothes, phone and shoes near the riverbank, prompting a search operation.
The Indian embassy in Russia is yet to make a statement. However, according to sources, they informed the student’s family about his death. A further probe is being conducted by the embassy in Moscow.
An ‘untoward incident’
Jitendra Singh Alwar, former Union minister, stated that this incident has left him “deeply stressed”, while urging the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar to look into the matter urgently.
Taking to his social media, Alwar added, “The deceased’s clothes, mobile phone, and shoes were found by the riverbank. The family was extremely distraught upon hearing the news of the 22-year-old boy’s disappearance; the entire family had been making efforts and prayers for his safe return.”
According to the Congress leader, Chaudhary’s family, including his uncle, met him and informed him that they managed to connect with the Bashkir State Medical University through India’s Ambassador to Russia.
“Today’s news of Ajit’s body being found in the river is utterly shocking. This is an extremely sorrowful moment for the Alwar family; in suspicious circumstances, we have lost a promising young boy. I express my deepest condolences to Ajit’s father Roop Singh ji, mother Santara Devi ji, and the entire family,” Alwar’s yesterday post read.
Alwar has requested the EAM to bring back Chaudhary’s body to India without any hindrance.
AIMSA seeks Indian govt intervention
As the shocking incident unfolds, the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) has also written a letter to Jaishankar to draw his attention to this matter. It has urged him to connect with the Indian Embassy in Moscow to bring back the student’s body.
“We also request that the necessary assistance be extended to the bereaved family to expedite formalities and bring their son home at the earliest,” the letter read.
With inputs from agencies