United Nations: Belarus claimed on Wednesday that Polish border guards beat up around 100 Indian students and turned them back into Ukraine following which they were placed in a refugee camp in Romania. Belarus Ambassador to the UN Valentin Rybakov made the remarks while delivering a statement in the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
"On the 26th of February, Polish border guards beat up and turned back into Ukraine a group of around 100 Indian students who then were kindly placed in a refugee camp in Romania, Rybakov said. In his speech, Ukraine's Ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya said one Indian national was killed. One Chinese citizen was wounded in the Russian military operation in his country, he added.
Watch: Indian students face racist attacks in Ukraine, decry govt's 'lack of efforts'
India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut down since February 24. The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military attacked the country.
Pressure on the Indian government to pull out its citizens has intensified in recent days, especially after one student died in shelling in Kharkiv on Tuesday. The government says about 17,000 out of an estimated 20,000 Indian citizens in Ukraine have left the country and that India is trying to evacuate the rest to nearby countries from where they can be flown back home. Many of those who remain stranded are in conflict areas such as Kharkiv and Sumy.
Also read: Feel bad for students: SC on plea for evacuation of Indians from Ukraine
(with Agency inputs)
