Help students stuck in Ukraine-Romania borders: SC tells government

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Union government to investigate the information that Indian students are stuck borders of Romania as they were trying to flee Ukraine. The top responded on a plea that informed the court that the students were stopped from crossing the border, directing Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal to reach out to the students if possible, The Indian Express reported.

Chief Justice NV Ramana's bench ordered to send the case file to AG through a special messenger. Ramana told AG, "use their your good offices" to help the students.

The petitioner, represented by senior advocate AM Dar, told the court of Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli that a student in Odesa, Ukraine, is stuck in Moldova. Many students are similarly stuck without food, money and in sub-zero temperatures, he said.

The AG, however, responded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in touch with Presidents of Russia as well as Ukraine. New Delhi has sent a minister to Romania to ensure students' border crossing. AG asked whether they were stopped from crossing, to which Dar said they were.

But AG replied that it was strange since Ukraine was concerned about the situation and were allowing everyone to cross into neighbouring countries. AG added that he would look into the matter.

The government has launched a special evacuation plan, Operation Ganga, to bring back Indian nationals from Ukraine through its neighbouring countries. Indian officials informed that thousands had been evacuated and more would be brought back, officials have said.