Rikshit Chauhan, one of the three Indian crew members from the Russian-flagged oil tanker Bella 1, now renamed Marinera, was set to return home next month before his wedding on February 19.
The merchant navy officer’s family was who are from Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, has now asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure his safe return.
The 26-year-old was a crew member on the ship when it was chased across the Atlantic in a maritime pursuit by U.S. Coast Guard vessels. The oil tanker was intercepted on January 7, and the crew aboard were detained by the US. Chauhan was employed by a Russian company and was sent to Venezuela for his first assignment to collect oil. The pursuit had begun on the Caribbean Sea and extended into the North Atlantic.
While speaking to local new media in Palampura, Kangra, Chauhan's mother, Reeta Devi, said, "Please ensure the safe return of my son, Rikshit."
"We talked to Rikshit for the last time on January 7 and are praying to God for his safe return before that date.
"We appeal to the prime minister and the external affairs minister to ensure the safe return of Rikshit and two others from Goa and Kerala, who are also crew members of the same vessel."
Ranjtih Singh, his father, said that Rikshit had indicated that further contact would be unlikely for some time. He said that due to America's military action against Venezuela, the company had instructed them to return from Venezuela. "We learnt on January 10 that our son's ship had been seized," Singh said
The ship had reportedly waited at the Venezuelan border for ten days after being stopped and was returning after being called back by the Russian company when it was seized.
The vessel had 28 crew members consisting of three Indians, six Georgians, 17 Ukrainians and two Russians.
Apart from the two Russians, all the others were detained.
Local MLA Ashish Butail was notified of the matter. Butail told PTI that the state government has taken up the case with the ministry of external affairs.
