New Delhi: It’s been a tough week for Indian seafarers employed by commercial vessel companies and sailing in and around the Gulf.
Despite a fragile ceasefire agreed to by the US and Iran two months ago, the Strait of Hormuz has been the real bone of contention with both countries maintaining a blockade.
Even as three oil tankers carrying mostly Indian crew were hit by US Navy, with three Indians being killed in one of those attacks, many others have sent out SoS calls.
Videos circulating on social media show perturbed seafarers claiming that they are stranded in the Gulf region and facing unsafe conditions amid ongoing attacks.
“The situation is very bad,” the crew members are heard saying, and that only ships with Indian seafarers are being targeted.
“We are in Iran and the situation here is very bad. Only Indian-crewed ships are being attacked. Why are we being dragged into someone else’s fight? We are not military personnel. We are seafarers working on contracts. We are helping the economy, bringing oil and increasing business across the globe,” one seafarer says in a viral clip.
He makes the important point that Indian crew members are not trained for conflict.
“We are not soldiers. We come on contract to work. Then why are we being attacked? What is our fault?” he asks helplessly.
He reveals that he had previously worked on a ship that was recently attacked, leading to the demise of three Indians.
“On the ship that was attacked yesterday, I had worked on it. I spoke to the captain, and he said a missile has been fired in Oman,” he says.
According to another person, there are over 1.3 million Indian seafarers, but rued that their voices are not being heard.
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