The Indian student who was killed in clashes between Russia and Ukraine in the city of Kharkiv on Tuesday has been identified as Naveen Gyanagoudar Shekharappa. A native of Chalageri in Ranebennur taluk in Karnataka's Haveri district, the 21-year-old was studying medicine at the Kharkiv National Medical University.
Naveen had shifted to a bunker for safety. However, he died in a missile attack when he had come out of the bunker to buy food from the nearby supermarket. He had spoken to his father on Tuesday before he went out. He had informed his family that 15-20 senior students had been evacuated and he, along with other friends, was waiting for his turn.
"Nine of us (students) were in the bunker. After the night curfew ended, he left the bunker after 6.30am to buy some food. He had called me around 7.58am and asked me to transfer some money to his card. When I called his number, some locals received the call and started crying. They informed us that Naveen had died," said Srikanth, Naveen's friend, speaking to a private Kannada news channel.
"The authorities have asked us to try and reach the western side by train. The train station is 7-8km away from our bunker. The cabs are very expensive. We are scared to go. Some people have ventured out and taken the train," said Srikant narrating their ordeal in war-torn Ukraine.
The MEA official who called Naveen's family to inform them about his death said he was killed in the shelling when he was outside buying groceries. When Shivakumar, a cousin of Naveen who spoke to the official, asked him if they were sure it was Naveen who had died, the official said the student contractor and his friends had confirmed his identity. "We are sorry to inform Naveen is no more. It is a war zone and we have kept the body in the morgue. We will try to bring back the body to India if the situation permits," said the official.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai telephoned Naveen's parents to console them and assured them that the government would try to bring his body to India.
Shekharappa is a farmer, while his elder son is an engineer in Bengaluru.
Manoj Rajan, nodal officer Karnataka, informed that the foreign secretary and MEA has confirmed to the chief secretary of Karnataka about Naveen's demise. Rajan has assured the parents of students stranded in Ukraine that the MEA was working hard to evacuate every Indian to safety.
