Indian lawmakers denounced on Sunday the lack of a US apology over the killing of three seafarers off the coast of Oman, as another sailor died from medical complications aboard a vessel stranded in the region amid the US blockade.
Details of the Incident
Aditya Sharma, a cadet, Shivanand Chaurashiya, a fitter, and Patnala Suresh, a chief engineer, were killed aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello when a US aircraft fired into the tanker’s engine room last week. While the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Washington’s envoy to New Delhi in protest, the Department of State on Saturday quoted Secretary Marco Rubio as telling his Indian counterpart that “all commercial vessels should immediately comply” with orders from US forces and that “violations” of the American blockade around the Strait of Hormuz would not be tolerated.
Political Reactions
The statement has since gone viral in India, with lawmakers joining in condemnation. “Just days after three Indian seafarers were killed in US attacks — no regret, no apology. Instead, the United States continues to issue orders,” Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in India’s parliament, said on social media. Shashi Tharoor, MP from the Congress party, took to social media that it was “deeply shocking” that the US position contained “absolutely no expression of regret or condolence” for the loss of Indian lives.
“Our Foreign Minister Jaishankar called Marco Rubio to express protest over the killing of three Indians by the US military. Instead of expressing regret, Rubio reportedly ‘scolded’ our Foreign Minister. He said: ‘Violations of US blockade will not be tolerated,’” said Sanjay Singh, MP from the Aam Aadmi Party. “The United States killed three Indians, and 65 Indians were narrowly rescued with great difficulty. Three cargo ships were attacked with missiles. According to UN laws, this is a terrorist act by the United States.”
Escalation and Impact
During last week alone, the US Navy attacked three commercial vessels with Indian seafarers on board. The US Central Command said the ships failed to comply with its directions from American forces — a claim that was rejected by IOS Marine, manager of the MT Settebello, which denied there was any communication before the deadly strike. The attacks have been taking place amid an escalation between the US and Iran in and around the Strait of Hormuz, where at least 20,000 Indian nationals are currently working aboard commercial vessels, according to data from the Forward Seamen’s Union of India.
Another Death Due to Blockade
Many of the sailors are stranded in the area due to the US blockade, which on Sunday was blamed for the death of another Indian sailor, second officer Nishanth Uirthanathan, who was unable to receive medical help aboard the MT Celestial off the coast of Oman despite numerous distress calls. Manoj Yadav, the FSUI’s secretary-general, told Arab News that over the past few weeks that the ship had been stranded, there was a shortage of food and drinking water. “When it comes to medical care, there was no sufficient medicine on board, as well as no medical support was provided to them,” Yadav said. “He was not allowed to go to the port. The (shipping) company was asking them to proceed to the port, but due to the blockade, they haven’t been allowed by the US Navy.”
