The Indian government has lodged a “strong protest” with the US following the death of three Indian sailors in US military action near Hormuz. This incident has happened at a time when tension between America and Iran is continuously increasing and the situation in the region is already very sensitive.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that its forces had fired two Hellfire missiles targeting the engine room of the oil tanker MT Settebello passing through the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday.
What did America say?
The US says the action was a “precision military strike”. According to US officials, the ship was operating under the flag of Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, and its crew had not followed repeated instructions.
Washington alleged that the ship was violating the US military embargo imposed on Iranian ports. America started implementing this blockade from April, so as to limit Iran’s sources of income and increase pressure on Tehran. At that time, peace talks between America and Iran also seemed to be at a standstill.
After the attack, 21 Indian crew members present on the ship were rescued, but three Indian sailors went missing. On Thursday, the Indian government confirmed that the bodies of the three were found on the ship. This is the first incident in which someone has lost his life since the American blockade was implemented.
Who were the Indians who died?
The deceased Indian sailors have been identified as Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, Deck Cadet Aditya Sharma and Fitter Shivanand Chaurasia. India’s Shipping and Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the incident as “a deep loss to our maritime family”.
Who was Aditya Sharma?
Aditya Sharma was a young deck cadet hailing from Himachal Pradesh. He died when the US military attacked the oil tanker MT Setebello in the Gulf of Oman. Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasia and chief engineer Patanala Suresh went missing after this attack. Indian officials later confirmed the death of all three.
Aditya was working as a deck cadet on the ship. A deck cadet is a trainee who prepares to become a licensed officer of a ship in the future. A total of 24 Indian crew members were present on MT Setebello. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) had stopped the ship about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Oman. The US alleged that the tanker was transporting Iranian oil and violating US sanctions. After this the American aircraft targeted the engine room of the ship.
Who was Shivanand Chaurasia?
Shivanand Chaurasia was a resident of Surauli village in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh. 35-year-old Shivanand was working as an engine fitter on MT Setbelo and worked in a foreign shipping company.
His father Ramji Chaurasia told that Shivanand had gone to Mumbai about eight months ago. From there he joined a foreign shipping company and was working on sea ships. He also died in the American attack.
Who was Patanala Suresh?
Patanala Suresh was a resident of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and was posted as Chief Engineer on MT Setebelo. He had responsibilities related to the technical operation and engine of the ship.
Suresh’s wife Bhargavi told ANI that initially she had received information that three crew members, including her husband, were missing. Later his death was confirmed. Bhargavi said that she has appealed to the authorities to bring her husband’s mortal remains home as soon as possible. She said, “He was stranded on the ship for a long time without any help and became a victim of this incident. All I want is that his body should be brought home as soon as possible.”
What has India done so far?
The Indian government condemned the attack and summoned a senior American diplomat. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing, “Such attacks must stop. We appeal to restore peace and stability in the region as soon as possible through dialogue and diplomacy.”
Manoj Yadav, general secretary of the Indian Sailors Organization, also raised questions on the incident. He said, “I am confident that the US Navy knew how many Indians and other foreign nationals were present on the ship. If the ship had not followed instructions, it could have been seized, but a missile attack was not necessary.” The Indian government on Thursday said it is closely monitoring the activities of all Indian-flagged ships and Indian crew in the Gulf region.
MT Setebello is one of three tankers that were hit by US missiles this week and had Indian crew members on board. This development has further increased the already existing tension between New Delhi and Washington.
India is one of the largest suppliers of maritime workers in the world. The share of Indian seafarers in the global maritime workforce is about 15 percent. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade passes through Hormuz, hence a large number of Indian sailors work in the Gulf and on oil tankers.
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