The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that an Indian student had been killed due to shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, as the country remains in conflict with Russia. Now, the Indian has been identified as Naveen Shekharappa, as per ANI. 

Naveen Gyanagoudar Shekharappa was a native of Chalageri in Ranebennur taluk in Karnataka’s Haveri district as per The Week. They reported that he was studying medicine at the Kharkiv National Medical University. Speaking about the 21-year-old’s demise, Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office stated, “CM Bommai spoke with his father. All efforts will be made to bring back Naveen’s body to India. The CM said that the matter is being negotiated with foreign ministry officials”, as per ANI. 

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While Naveen had moved to a bunker for safety, he died of the missile attack when he’d emerged from the hiding place and gone to the supermarket to get some groceries, The Week reported. The magazine also interviewed Naveen’s friend, Srikanth, who said, “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”. 

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The friend further added, “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”, as per The Week. They also noted that Naveen had last spoken to his family in Haveri over a video call. The Week reported that he’d informed them of 15-20 seniors being evacuated already, while he and other friends awaited their turn.