Death of Nepalese in Russian army: DNA's agony over grief

The consular department called and invited him to Kathmandu to give a DNA sample for the identification of the body, saying that his brother, who has been out of contact with the war-torn Luhansk region of Ukraine since October 2, has died. However, in the one week that he has been here, he has been spending time in the consular department, the police headquarters, and the teaching hospital. On the one hand, there is confusion about where to collect the DNA sample, and on the other hand, the crying screams of the 70-year-old mother and brother-in-law, who are drowning in grief and sorrow. Tekraj has gone crazy in Kathmandu.

After coming to Kathmandu, Tekraj initially went to the consular department with his relative Chiranjeevi Acharya. The department wrote a letter to the police headquarters asking them to provide the DNA sample. I took that letter to the police headquarters and handed it over. Returned the letter saying it did not match. We had to go to the consular department and make another letter," said Tekraj. "The modified letter was accepted by the police headquarters. The police sent it saying that we will write to our agency, you will receive a phone call.''

Tekraj, who is overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, is suffering every minute in this grief. But he said that he would report that when there was no news from the police headquarters for two days, his anxiety was doubling. He got news from many sources that the police head office has sent a letter to the Maharajganj metropolitan police division.

Then on Wednesday he went to Maharajganj. There is also a lengthy process. We need three witnesses that the DNA sample was given in front of us. I will not be able to carry this letter again by myself," he said, "I have to go with the police. We reached the teaching hospital on Wednesday afternoon. The hospital refused to take blood because they didn't have time.

Tekraj is not only fed up but also angry with this harassment given by government agencies during mourning. He said, 'We had to wait for a week to give the blood sample. It's always difficult for people like us here.''

After Russia requested the Nepal government to send DNA samples of close family members for 'genetic testing' to identify the bodies of 15 Nepalis who joined the Russian army and died during the war. are

Renuka, the younger sister of 25-year-old Khom Bahadur Bhujel from Okhaldhunga, was wandering around Kathmandu for lack of information on where to give DNA samples. Khom Bahadur, who has been working as a cook in Qatar for two years, arrived in Russia on October 30. "We did not know that he was recruited into the Russian army. I only found out after seeing a photo with the uniform on Facebook. We didn't even think about going back. He said there is no chance of returning," said Renuka, "Finally that's what happened. He left never to return.

Renuka has received the news that the armored vehicle he was riding in was blown up by a drone shot by the Ukrainian army before Khom Bahadur reached the red zone of the war-torn area. My brother died on November 23 at 9 o'clock in the night. The car they were riding in is broken into pieces like stones. We got to know this news only on 25th of December. After the news was confirmed on January 5, we performed the cremation," she said. "After receiving the news that the body was not identified, we came to give the DNA sample. The sample has not been taken yet.'

Renuka's father, who returned after spending 22 years in Saudi Arabia, now runs a mill in the village. My brother and I were two sisters. I have come to give DNA since my mother and sister could not come. Sometimes what doesn't work, doesn't work," she said. "I went to the police headquarters with a letter from the consular department. A protocol has to be followed to enter there. I went with a grunge pair. They told me to wear another pair of pants saying that they could not wear it. After going to the bathroom and exchanging pants with a friend who went with him, he was admitted. I ran twice to correct the letter.

Ajay Thokar of Makwanpur also stayed in the teaching hospital all day on Wednesday and returned with frustration and anger in the evening. The body of his 28-year-old brother Vijay Bahadur, who joined the Russian army and died, has not yet been identified. After being out of touch since October 6, Ajay had also submitted an application to the consular department to trace Vijay. After Vijay's name was on the death list, the consul called Ajay to Kathmandu to give a DNA sample for body identification. Since Sunday, he was circling here and there to give the DNA sample and was surprised that it did not work. I came to finish the job in one day. It's been 5 days. He said, "I didn't think that the process of DNA would be so complicated." Ajay is now mourning the death of his brother on the one hand and on the other hand he is worried about the loan of 8/9 lakh rupees that he paid to the broker when he went to Russia. When she is worried about how to overcome this grief for her sister-in-law and brother's little daughter, she has been more saddened by the fact that she has come to give a DNA sample. Even if the body is identified, it is not known whether it will come or not. We are confused whether to proceed to Kazkiria or to wait for the body,' he said, 'We would have been able to identify the body by sending a DNA sample as soon as possible.' Requested the Nepal government to send the DNA sample. Among them are Tika Bahadur Ranamgar of Tehrathum, Jit Bahadur Pun Magar of Dang, Abhishek Budha, Chandra Bahadur BC of Banke, Ghanshyam Shahi of Morang, Prem Bahadur Kathayat of Acham, Khom Bahadur Bhujel of Okhaldhunga, Bimal Kumar Gajmer of Dhanusha, Premprakash Neupane and Bhim Bahadur Vick of Nawalparasi, Kshitij Basnet of Khotang, Somes Sunuwar of Pyuthan, Vikas Rai. , Vijay Bahadur Thokar, Jitendra Bahadur Ghising of Makwanpur. As of Wednesday, the families of Bhim Bahadur Vick, Premprakash Neupane and Bimal Kumar Gajmer have given DNA samples.

Executive Director of Teaching Hospital Dr. Dinesh Kafle said that it was delayed because the sample should be collected only after all the details including the bond were received and the documents were prepared. "We have called those who could not attend on Wednesday at 10 am on Thursday," he told Kantipur.

Kriti Bhandari, the coordinator of the awareness campaign for the safety of the lives of those recruited into the Russian army, said that it is very difficult for the victim's family to take DNA samples. The parents who lost their son are rushing to Kathmandu. Someone's brother and sister have come. How many agencies do you have to go to to get a DNA?,' she said, 'The state is giving suffering to the victims instead of facilitating them.'