New Delhi: A day after the chargé d’affaires of the US embassy in New Delhi was summoned to register India’s displeasure about missile strikes by the US Navy near the Strait of Hormuz, India strongly condemned a series of attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian seafarers.
Describing the incidents as “deeply worrisome”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called for an immediate end to violence which was affecting international shipping.
In the latest attack, three Indian sailors were killed after the Palau-flagged MT Settebello was struck off the Omani coast on Wednesday. It was initially reported that the trio was missing, but Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed on Thursday that all three had perished.
The deceased have been identified as deck cadet Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya and chief engineer Patnala Suresh. According to the government, all three bodies have been recovered.
There were 28 crew members, including 24 Indians, in the oil tanker when it came under attack.
“There have been several incidents involving Indian seafarers in West Asia in the last few days. We attach high importance to the welfare and well-being of our seafarers’ community,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.
“We condemned the attack on a ship off the coast of Oman in which, unfortunately, we lost three Indian nationals. We had summoned the US Charge d’Affaires (Jason Meeks) to register a strong protest. The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region. These attacks must cease and end,” Jaiswal demanded.
Delhi had raised the issue directly with Washington.
“When this particular attack happened on Palau-flagged MT Settebello, we lodged a strong protest with the American side. We called in the American CDA and informed them of our deepest concerns about the ongoing incidents of attacks, and we registered a strong protest with them,” Jaiswal informed.
The attacks were carried out by the US Navy operating in the region, the MEA spokesperson said.
“The three ships that have been involved in the incidents are foreign-flagged. They are not Indian-owned ships,” Jaiswal further said.
Third attack in four days
Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in Shipping Ministry, said three separate vessels carrying Indian crew members have been attacked since June 8.
The first incident involved MT Marivex, on which a fire broke out. All 24 Indian crew members on board were safely rescued.
On June 10, another vessel (MT Settebello) with 24 Indians was struck. Twenty-one Indians were safely evacuated, but three lost their lives.
The latest incident occurred on Thursday when MT Jalveer was hit. All 20 Indian sailors aboard the vessel are safe.
