Kin of seafarers killed in Hormuz attacks demand UN intervention, compensation, govt. jobs

Relatives of Indian seafarers killed in attacks in and around the Hormuz Strait on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) urged the Union Government to file an official petition with the United Nations over the deaths and seek compensation of $5 million for each bereaved family from the United States and Iran.

The families, addressing a press conference organised by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), alleged that the companies that owned the ships where Indian seafarers were working had kept them in the dark about the attacks and subsequent deaths on the ships.

Those attended the conference included Patnala Bhargavi, wife of Patnala Suresh, a marine engineer from Sriharipuram in Visakhapatnam who was killed in an attack on the oil tanker MT Settebello off the Oman coast on June 10, Rajesh Sharma, father of Aditya Sharma, another seafarer who was killed in the incident, and Ajay Chaurasia, uncle of Shivanand Chaurasia, another crew member who was killed in the same incident. Rishi Tandon, father-in-law of Heramb Karmakar, a Pune-based marine engineer who was killed after the merchant vessel GFX Galaxy was attacked near Oman, was also present.

Former MP and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) general secretary Elamaram Kareem and CPI(M) MP V. Sivadasan, who also attended the press conference, alleged that the Union Government is turning a blind eye to concerns of Indian seafarers. They urged the Government to initiate diplomatic dialogues to stop attacks on Indian-crewed commercial vessels.

FSUI general secretary Manoj Yadav said more than 15,000 Indian seafarers are currently working on ships operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz and said their safety is a matter of grave concern.

“More than 11 Indian seafarers have lost their lives while performing their duties on commercial vessels in recent months. Their families have been left abandoned, dependent on inadequate company compensation that is yet to be received,” Mr. Yadav said.

“Our own Government has failed to adequately recognise the supreme sacrifice of these brave Indian seafarers. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense, and similar threats are now emerging in the Black Sea due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with risks spreading to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait,” he said, adding the Government of India has not raised a strong enough voice against these killings or ensured justice to the families.

The FSUI and the bereaved families demanded that the Union Government immediately petition the United Nations against the killing of Indian seafarers and demand guaranteed freedom of safe navigation in international waters.

“We demand adequate compensation of not less than $5 million per family from the United States and Iran (or responsible parties). Central and State Governments must also provide substantial support to the bereaved families, including ex gratia payment of ₹1 crore per family, a government job on compassionate grounds for one dependent of each deceased seafarer and recognition of those killed in the attacks as martyrs,” they demanded.