Russia gives PR to widow of Punjab man killed in Ukraine, Rs 20K monthly aid to kids
The Russian government has initiated the process to grant permanent residency (PR) to five members of the family of Tejpal Singh, who was killed fighting for the Russian army in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on March 12.
Confirming the development, Tejpal’s widow Parminder Kaur said she had been granted PR while other members of her family — her children and Tejpal’s parents — would be granted the permanent residency on arrival in Russia.
She said the Russian government had started giving a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000 each to her children — seven-year-old Armandeep Singh and four-year-old Gurnaazdeep Kaur — to meet their education and lodging expenses since March.
Returning after her three-month stay in Moscow this week, Parminder said there was no word from the government on handing over her husband’s mortal remains.
She will fly to Moscow in February to complete the remaining paper work. The entire family plans to visit Russia in May when the harsh winter will subside there. Once Tejpal’s parents land in Russia, they will also start getting pension there.
About the plans of the family, she said at this juncture, they did not have any desire to settle in Russia permanently but would keep on visiting it.
Following the issuance of a tourist visa by the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, Parminder had gone to Russia for three months. She stayed there with a couple — an Indian from Goa who is married to a Russian girl. She was all praise for the couple who besides offering her accommodation, also helped her visit various offices to complete documentation at the Russian army recruitment office.
She slammed the Indian Embassy in Moscow for not declaring her husband “killed in action” in the Russia-Ukraine war. She said Tejpal’s name continued to figure in the list of missing persons.
Parminder said she visited the embassy thrice, but was allowed to meet a senior officer only once. Although she was assured that an official would assist her, nobody from the embassy contacted her during her stay in Russia, she claimed.
A native of Batala’s Chahal Khurd village, Parminder, who was employed at the Delhi Airport for a couple of years, had earlier worked in Cyprus.
Tejpal’s love for olive green and at the same time ensuring subsistence for his family, made him join the Russian army, which offered him a lucrative salary. Earlier, Tejpal had been rejected by the Indian Army, paramilitary forces and the Punjab Police.
In a bid to disguise his route to Russia, Tejpal first flew to Bangkok on December 20, 2023, stayed there for 22 days and then booked a ticket to Moscow.
On January 12, he called up Parminder to tell her that he had reached Moscow. The next day he called again, this time to say that he had cleared the Russian army’s physical and medical tests. On March 12, he was killed in the war.
