The family of Aditya Sharma, an Indian seafarer from Hamirpur who tragically lost his life in the attack on the MT Settebello in the Strait of Hormuz, has raised serious allegations against the ship's command and working conditions. They have demanded a high-level inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the June 9 incident.
Father's Allegations on Social Media
Aditya's father, Rajesh Sharma, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his grievances. He alleged that his son was subjected to exploitation by senior crew members. According to him, Aditya had attempted to resign in April but was allegedly coerced into withdrawing his complaint. Subsequently, he was forced into what his father describes as a 'hell-like environment,' working nearly 20-hour shifts daily.
Questioning the Captain's Decisions
The family has also questioned the decisions made by the vessel's leadership. In an interview with CNN-News18, Rajesh Sharma stated that the ship's captain proceeded into the high-risk Gulf region despite reports of an earlier attack on another vessel in the area. He further alleged that the crew deliberately disabled the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid tracking, raising serious concerns about the ship's operational protocols.
Demand for Investigation and Repatriation
The family has urged the Ministry of External Affairs and Union Minister Anurag Thakur to order a detailed investigation to establish responsibility for the incident. Their immediate priority remains the repatriation of Aditya Sharma's mortal remains to Hamirpur for the final rites, as authorities coordinate the return of the deceased and the 21 rescued Indian crew members.
The incident has sparked widespread concern over the safety and working conditions of Indian seafarers abroad, with calls for stricter regulations and oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future.
