6 brothers of the Dobal family in the Russia-Ukraine war

6 brothers of village Dobal Khalak were lured by organized human traffickers and joined the Russian army. 1 of them, Mahendrasingh Dobal, was injured in the war and barely returned to Nepal, but the condition of the other 5 is bothering the family every day.

A year ago Navindrasingh Dobal came to Kathmandu with his brothers to go for foreign employment. After being assured that they would be sent to a good job, they paid cash at the rate of Rs 5 lakh per person. However, they ran into trouble when the broker absconded with the money. After the broker ran away with the loan money from the village, they were waiting in Kathmandu to go abroad from the western frontier district of Darchula. While they were stuck in this problem, they heard that there was an opening to join the Russian army to fight against Ukraine, and that they would earn good money if they joined. And made a plan to go there.

Thus, 22-year-old Rajendra Singh Dobal, Deepak Singh Dobal, Vishal Singh Dobal, Lalit Singh Dobal, Mahendra Singh Dobal and 23-year-old Navinder Singh Dobal of the same people had joined the Russian army six months ago by paying Rs 12 lakh to a broker. At this time, Mahendrasingh returned home after being injured, but Rajendrasingh and Lalitsingh are not in contact. Deepak, Vishal and Navindra occasionally come in contact with the family and disappear for weeks. According to the family members, several weeks have passed without any update on the condition of Rajendrasingh and Lalitsingh.

According to Navindrasingh's elder sister Tulsi Kunwar, 6 members of the same family were trapped by brokers in their attempt to go abroad. They got into trouble when the broker absconded after taking money from one person at the rate of 5 lakh rupees saying that he would send it abroad. She said that while they were wandering in the situation of not being able to pay the loan taken out on interest, they flew to Russia after selling it to another broker they met in Kathmandu at a rate of 1.2 million rupees.

'Cousin, Uncle of the same family goes to war, now the village is afraid. Vinaju Kundansingh Nagal, who went before him, died 3 months ago in the war between Russia and Ukraine. After that, we are more scared," she said. "On the one hand, the stress of the creditor not even being able to pay the interest, on the other hand, all the pillars of the house that carried hope and trust are in another place. The tension of what will happen at what time is bothering me day and night.'

Tulsi said that those who have no experience in weapons and fighting war are sent by brokers to make more money. According to him, Mahendrasingh, who was injured in the war, was sent back home by the broker who sent him there.

After arriving in Russia, they went to the battlefield after training for a month to fight and use weapons. After knowing the situation there, last January, on behalf of the family, we submitted a request to various government agencies. However, no one cares to return them to Nepal, to find out the situation of the uncontacted,” she said.

Dobal Khalak's family is as fastidious as that of many families in Far West Province. The Rawal family of Achham Sanfebagar Municipality-6 Bhagyashwar also has the same quickness and apathy. 49-year-old Bikram Rawal, who had worked in the Nepali Army for 17 years, was working in a security company in Dubai for the past three years. While his earnings in Dubai were covering the household expenses, he heard from his friends that he could earn a fortune if he could join the Russian army. Falling under this temptation, on October 28, he went to Russia with his friends and spent 500,000 from Dubai. And then he told his wife and family members that he had joined the Russian army.

Mrs. Lata Bogti was surprised to learn that her husband, who had gone to work in Dubai, had arrived in Russia. At first, Lata thought it was not possible, but when her husband started sending pictures as proof that he had reached Russia, she only believed. He reached Russia without telling me. You have gone because of your friends. He said that he had spent 500,000 only after reaching Russia," she said. "Even in Dubai, the earnings were not good. Debt is also high. He came to Russia, tempted by the prospect of good money to go to war. Now life is in danger.'

According to Lata, her husband joined the army and fought in the war after reaching Russia. She said that nowadays Vikram comes in contact only once in a week. "He barely gets in touch in a week, two weeks. It has been a week now, there is no information about where he is, in what condition he is," she said. "A 12-year-old son is looking for his father. I live and die every moment. The time passes by wondering when the news will be heard and crying.

Giri family of Belauri Municipality-3 in Kanchanpur is in the same situation. 30-year-old Bhesraj Giri from here arrived in Russia from Dubai 9 months ago. Bhesharaj, who worked in the Armed Police for 7 years and Dubai Police for 4 years, spent 4.5 lakhs and joined the army in Russia. Despite being in regular contact with the family, the sad news from Russia continues to haunt the family every day. Bhesharaj's wife, Sapna Nath, said that her husband had signed a one-year contract and now the contract will expire after three months. She said, "We are hoping that you will be able to come after the agreement is over." There is tension in the family since I went to the war-torn country.

It has been confirmed that 32 Nepali people who joined the Russian army and went to fight in Ukraine have died.

If the dead and injured returnees are to be believed, there may have been hundreds of Nepali casualties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the death of 17 Nepalis till last month and 15 more recently. The foreign ministry does not confirm the identity of a deceased Nepali until the Russian government issues an official death certificate. At least 96 of those enlisted in the Russian army are not in contact with their Nepali families.

About four and a half hundred families of those recruited in the Russian army have submitted a request to the consular department asking for a search. According to the Nepalis in the Russian army, at least 700 Nepalis have been deployed on the Russia-Ukraine border.