New Delhi, Dec 19 (NVI) Sixteen Indian seafarers are under detention of Iran since last 11 days after the Navy of the Persian country seized their cargo vessel on high seas for some unknown reasons, prompting their families to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help in securing the release of the detenues.
The vessel M.T. Valiant Roar, operated by Prime Tankers LLC of Dubai, was intercepted on December 8 in international waters off Dibba Port, UAE, by the Iranian Navy which directed the vessel to move to Bandar-e-Jask port of Iran and anchor off there, according to the information available.
Along with the 16 Indians, there is a national of Sri Lankan and Bangladesh each who too have been detained.
The detained Indians are from various parts of the country.
The vessel commander, Captain Vijay Kumar is from Bainswal in Uttar Pradesh.
The reason for the detention is unknown.
According to their family members, Iran has not granted even Consular Access to the detained people.
Vijay Kumar’s wife Siniya, in a letter to the Prime Minister, has said she was seeking “urgent and compassionate intervention in the matter that has caused immense distress to our entire family”.
She wrote that on December 8, her family member Capt. Vinod Panwar received a voicemail from her husband stating that the vessel was “being chased by the Iranian Navy while sailing in international waters off Dibba Port, UAE”.
She added that “through industry contacts and personal efforts, we later learned that the vessel and all crew members were subsequently escorted by the Iranian Navy and instructed to anchor off Bandar-e-Jask, Iran.”
Since that day, Siniya said, there has been no communication whatsoever from her husband or any of the crew.
“This prolonged silence has caused severe anxiety and anguish to all families involved,” Capt. Vijay Kumar’s wife wrote.
“Your timely support is our only hope during this extremely difficult and uncertain period. We place complete trust in the Government of Indiato safeguard the lives and dignity of our seafarers,” she concluded. (NVI)
