Family of Missing Merchant Navy Cadet Appeals to Odisha Chief Minister
The family of Sarthak Mohapatra, a merchant navy cadet from Bhadrak district who went missing from a container vessel near Mauritius, met with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday. This meeting occurred six days after Sarthak's disappearance, with the family urgently seeking government intervention to accelerate the investigation into his mysterious vanishing.
Conflicting Reports and Delayed Investigation
According to Sarthak's mother, Rasmita Mohapatra, the vessel operator Anglo-Eastern informed the family that the onboard search operation concluded on Saturday. The ship, EA Jersey, has since resumed its voyage toward Singapore. The company's initial communication stated that Sarthak was last seen entering his room on the morning of February 3.
"The vessel has been searched primarily by crew members," Rasmita explained. "We have been told that a detailed investigation by security personnel will be conducted only after the ship reaches Singapore, which will take another eight to ten days."
The family has urgently requested that the company divert the vessel to the nearest port to enable a thorough search by official investigation teams. However, this request has not been fulfilled, even as the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mauritius continues its search operations.
Discrepancies in Official Communications
Adding to the family's distress are two conflicting communications received from the shipping company. While the first letter stated Sarthak was last seen entering his room, the second claimed he was last seen stepping out of his room with a mobile phone. These contradictory accounts have raised serious questions about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
"Sarthak was an experienced sailor," Rasmita emphasized. "Prior to this, he worked on three more vessels. His sudden disappearance under unclear circumstances is deeply troubling."
Growing Demands for Independent Investigation
The Directorate General of Shipping under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has initiated a coordinated multi-agency response to the case. Meanwhile, the All-India Seafarers Union has demanded:
- An independent investigation led by the Directorate General of Shipping
- Immediate seizure of all evidence on the vessel
- Release of CCTV footage from the ship
The union's demands highlight growing concerns about transparency in the investigation process and the need for immediate action to determine what happened to the missing cadet.
As the vessel continues toward Singapore, the family remains in anguish, awaiting answers about their son's fate. The meeting with Chief Minister Majhi represents their latest effort to secure government support in what has become an increasingly complex international maritime mystery.
