BAITADI: Manoj Singh Bhat, a 33-year-old resident of Kanda-7 in Melauli Municipality in the district, has been confirmed dead.

He was serving in the Russian army and participating in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Bhat, who joined the Russian military approximately two years ago, had lost contact with his family for long. The news of his passing was confirmed through a DNA test, according to Ramchandra Bhatta, the ward chairperson of Melauli Municipality-7.

While the exact date of Bhat’s death remains uncertain, his family has been notified of the unfortunate news, Bhatt stated. Bhat leaves behind his parents, a brother, and a wife. Additionally, Arjun Datt Bhatta, who hails from Asur-9 in Melauli Municipality and enlisted alongside Bhat, tragically passed away in April 2025.