In an odd incident, locals were perplexed when they came across a foreigner begging outside Sri Kumarakottam temple in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Police came to the man’s aid.
The man is a Russian citizen identified as Evangelin who came to India in October. He visited India to travel to several temples in South India.
Evangelin went to a currency exchange office and then exhausted the money he had. The Russian next went to an ATM but his card got blocked after he entered the wrong pin number.
Helpless with no money and the communication barrier led him to sleep on the footpath outside the temple and in the morning decided to beg to get some money.
The Siva Kanchi police arrived at the scene after the police were informed about the Russian begging.
The police heard his story and Sub Inspector Thulasi gave him 500 rupees and helped him board a train to Chennai. The Inspector instructed him to visit the Russian High Commission in Chennai for help.
Sushma Swaraj immediately acted and tweeted, “Your country Russia is our time tested friend. My officials in Chennai will provide you all help.”
Today, the Russian consulate informed that Evangelin did not answer their calls. An official at the consulate, Yury S. Belov said, “He did not answer our call when we contacted him on his mobile.”
He further added that they did not receive any calls from Evangelin either and once they are contacted, “we will assist him in a proper way.”
