India
Ukraine detaining Indian students to use them as human shields
Amid rising tensions in Ukraine, Russia claims the Ukrainians are keeping a group of Indian students prisoner to use them as human shields.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time in less than a week, revealing to him that Ukrainian soldiers are using Indian students as human shields to gain leverage in the current combat with Russian troops.
Russian President Vladimir Putin further told India that his military was doing all necessary to guarantee that Indian citizens were safely evacuated from the “war zone.”
Putin has asked his troops to arrange “rapid evacuation of a group of Indian students from Kharkov (Kharkiv) through the humanitarian corridor along the shortest path to Russia,” according to the Kremlin’s summary of the call.
“At the same time, according to the most recent information, these students are being held captive by Ukrainian security forces, who are using them as a human shield and preventing them from leaving for Russia in any manner imaginable.” “The Kiev (Kyiv) authorities bear sole responsibility in this issue,” the Kremlin response stated.
PM Modi as well as President Putin spoke many hours after Indians stuck in Kharkiv, Ukraine, were told to leave and go to three places within four hours, including Pesochin, Babaye, and Bezlyudovka, Russia.
Due to the escalating situation, the Indian embassy in Ukraine issued an urgent warning to all Indians in Kharkiv. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-biggest city, is currently home to the country’s largest population of Indians.
According to an Indian interpretation of Modi and Putin’s chat, the two discussed the situation in Ukraine, particularly in the districts surrounding Kharkiv, where many Indian students are trapped.
The report stated, “They addressed the safe evacuation of Indian people from crisis zones.”
The Russian envoy notified Indians yesterday that the Russians have agreed to give a safe route via their land.
According to India, no student has been abducted.
In a separate statement, the MEA stated that India had “not received any information of any hostage scenario involving any student” as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. According to the report, the Indian government has demanded that the Ukrainian authorities arrange special trains to transport students out of Kharkiv and its environs.
The Russian Defense Ministry has previously declared that Russian military forces are prepared to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safe evacuation of Indian people.
“And, as offered by the Indian side, transfer them home from Russian territory using Russian military transport flights or Indian jets,” the Russian Defense Ministry stated.
There had been rumors that Zelenskyy’s administration was using citizens as human shields to stop the Russian troops from moving ahead. According to reports, Ukraine has reportedly placed Indian students in a hostage scenario near the Polish border.
Ukraine develops an evacuation hotline.
Ukraine claimed to have established an emergency hotline for African, Asian, and other students desiring to flee Ukraine due to Russia’s military activity, only hours after Russia claimed that Ukrainian forces are using Indians as human shields to protect themselves.
The detained students might call the hotline for a safe escape, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. He went on to say that they are working hard to secure their safety and expedite the process.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the students were offered the opportunity to leave Ukraine via the Ukrainian-Polish border. “They volunteered to travel into a region where active conflicts are occurring,” according to the statement.
According to sources, over 3,000 students remain trapped in these towns, most of whom are in Kharkiv.
Many Indian students have released recordings alleging that Ukrainian officials are harassing them and preventing them from boarding trains.
No civilians have been used as human shields, according to the US.
However, the US Department of State stated on Wednesday that it has received no verifiable reports of Ukraine employing Indian students as human shields.
These charges, according to the State Department, are frequently utilized in Russian disinformation campaigns.
“We have seen no verifiable reports of these occurrences, and allegations about civilians being utilized as human shields are prevalent in Russian misinformation,” a representative for the US Department of State stated.
Airlines may move flights to Navi Mumbai International Airport from summer 2027 as Mumbai airport prepares for Terminal 1 redevelopment.
The Shift
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has asked 12 international airlines to temporarily shift their flight operations to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from the summer schedule of 2027.
The move comes as Mumbai airport prepares for the redevelopment of Terminal 1, which will affect its existing flight-handling capacity. Out of 50 international airlines that requested flight slots for the summer schedule, the airport has allocated slots to 38 airlines. The remaining 12 have been asked to consider operating from Navi Mumbai.
The affected airlines operate flights to 14 international destinations, including Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, Kathmandu and Dhaka.
According to reports, the proposed shift could affect around five million passengers annually, while nearly 91% of Mumbai airport’s existing passenger traffic will remain unaffected. The Terminal 1 redevelopment project is expected to increase its annual passenger-handling capacity from 15 million to 20 million. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and is targeted for completion by March 2029.
Mumbai airport has assured airlines that their existing flight slots will be restored after the redevelopment work is completed. The move is aimed at distributing flight operations between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports while maintaining smooth passenger services during the construction period.
Residents can report noise pollution, illegal firecracker sales and violations of permitted bursting hours through ward-wise and toll-free helplines.
The Helplines
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has introduced a special complaint system to address noise and air pollution caused by firecrackers during Diwali. The civic body has announced separate helpline numbers for all eight administrative wards, along with two toll-free numbers for residents to register complaints.
The facility covers Belapur, Nerul, Vashi, Turbhe, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli, Airoli and Digha. Residents can report loud firecrackers, illegal sales and violations of pollution control guidelines.
As per the Bombay High Court’s directions issued on October 15, 2026, firecrackers are permitted only between 7 pm and 10 pm. Crackers producing noise above 125 decibels are prohibited. Firecrackers containing harmful chemicals such as barium, lithium, arsenic, lead and mercury are also banned.
The NMMC has urged citizens to follow the prescribed timings and avoid excessive use of firecrackers, highlighting the health risks associated with rising air and noise pollution during the festive season.
Residents can contact the following numbers for complaints:
- Belapur: 8976954881
- Nerul: 8976954882
- Turbhe: 8976954883
- Vashi: 8976954884
- Koparkhairane: 8976954885
- Ghansoli: 8976954886
- Airoli: 8976954887
- Digha: 8976954889
Toll-free helplines: 1800222309 / 1800222310
NMMC Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde has appealed to residents to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali and help keep the city pollution-free.
Residents question the driver over littering in public, prompting him to clean the stain; video of the incident goes viral on social media.
The Gutkha
A cab driver was confronted by a woman resident for allegedly spitting gutkha on Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, showing the driver eventually cleaning the spot after being questioned by residents.
The incident reportedly took place when a woman noticed the driver spitting gutkha on the road near his vehicle. She questioned him and asked him to clean the area. However, the driver initially denied the allegation and refused to take responsibility.
The argument intensified when two security guards joined the discussion and questioned the driver. The woman also pointed out that spitting in public places is punishable and can attract fines.
After initially refusing, the driver eventually poured water from a bottle and cleaned the gutkha stain from the road.
The video, shared on social media by Richa Sameet, has triggered discussions about civic sense and the responsibility of citizens to maintain cleanliness in public spaces.
The incident has also highlighted the problem of people spitting tobacco and gutkha on roads and other public places, despite rules against such practices. Residents have stressed the need for greater public awareness and responsible behaviour to keep Navi Mumbai clean.
Mumbai Airport Asks 12 International Airlines to Shift Operations to Navi Mumbai
NMMC Sets Up Special Helplines for Diwali Firecracker Pollution Complaints
Cab Driver Confronted for Allegedly Spitting Gutkha on Palm Beach Road
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