Naveen Shekarappa’s fatherPhoto : Times Now DigitalNew Delhi: Father of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagouda, India’s first tragic casualty in the ongoing military offensive in Ukraine, on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back his son’s body to India.Naveen was killed when he stepped out of his bunker to exchange currency and fetch some food, one of his relatives told media.The tragic news of their child in a faraway country came as a blow to the parents back home, even as Gyanagouda’s Chalageri residence in the Haveri district slipped into gloom upon receiving the information.A large number of people thronged the house to console the bereaved family.While speaking to media, Naveen’s father said, “I have requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring my son’s dead body.””I also request the political leaders to take this matter seriously as the situation is very bad in Ukraine for Indian nationals,” he added.Talking about why Indian students go to Ukraine for higher studies, he said, “Education in India is expensive. Parents have to give crores and crores of rupees here to get an MBBS degree.””Even the allocation of seats in India is according to caste. My son got 97 per cent,” he said.The death sent a shockwave among other parents from Chalageri whose children are also pursuing medical courses in Kharkiv, as they now fear for their wards’ well-being.Allegations have also cropped up against the local BJP MP that he did not respond to the SOS calls from the stranded students, a charge denied by the elected representative.Related NewsUkraine-Russia Conflict: First Indian casualty in war-hit Ukraine; student from Karnataka dies in Kharkiv