Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh), June 11 (IANS) The family of one of the three Indian sailors, who were declared dead after the US forces attacked a vessel off the coast of Oman earlier this week, demanded an enquiry into the incident and appealed that the victim’s mortal remains be brought home at the earliest.

The killing of Indian seafarers, who were initially reported missing, was confirmed by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who called it a “profound loss for India’s maritime community”.

One of the victims was identified as Aditya Sharma, a resident of Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur.

Talking to reporters, his uncle said: “He was my nephew, just 22-23 years old. We had brought him up with so many dreams.”

Recounting how the family came to know about the tragic news, he said: “Last night, at around 9 p.m., my brother received a phone call informing him that he was missing. As soon as I got the information, I left everything and rushed straight to Jalandhar, where my brother was staying.”

“The whole night, we tried to coordinate with the company’s people. They did cooperate, but were not telling us anything except that he was missing. He was working on the deck. He was still on probation and had completed around six months of service,” he said.

He noted that Aditya was about to come home on May 24, but had extended his work for a month.

“Upon reaching Jalandhar, we were seeking details, during which at about 1.30-2 p.m., his name was declared among the dead,” he said.

“Now, though, we have returned home, we are making every possible effort to ensure that we receive the mortal remains of our son at the earliest so that we are able to carry out his last rites,” Aditya’s uncle said.

Further, he said: “The family wants to know what Aditya was doing at the spot where the missile landed, that too at 10-10:.30 pm? Also, we need information on whether he was provided help or not.”

The sailor’s grandfather added: “If the ship’s captain was warned not to take the vessel ahead, how could he ignore the warning? We want to know this.”

“I would request (Hamirpur) MP Anurag Thakur and the Central government to conduct a proper enquiry and punish the culprits,” he told media persons.

–IANS

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