Article by Viory
Village Mourns Sailor
The village of Surauli in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district remains in mourning following the death of 35-year-old engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasia, who was killed in a US strike on the oil tanker MT Settebello on Wednesday.
Footage captured on Saturday shows grieving family members at Chaurasia’s home, as locals, officials, and police gathered nearby.
“I got a call from his friend who was calling home urgently, but the phone was not connecting there. Then my nephew got a call that his uncle’s ship had been attacked. Then I spoke to him and then I came to know,” recalled Shivanand’s brother Pravesh.
“He hadn’t mentioned anything about it to us yet <…> he didn’t say he was scared, otherwise no, he hadn’t said anything about that,” he continued.
Pravesh urged authorities to take action over the killing and to repatriate his brother’s body.
“Action should be taken against them as soon as possible, and the financial aid should reach our home as soon as possible,” he added.
Their father also called for compensation of one lakh rupees ($1,050 – €900) to support the family.
Family Seeks Support
A neighbour also shared recollection of Shivanand.
“He was very intelligent and very promising. He had a big responsibility towards his family and children,” said neighbour Ajit.
He highlighted the family’s hardship, noting, “When Shivanand Chaurasia’s name came up, the entire village was shocked to hear it. Even today the entire village is crying for him. The financial condition of his family is very weak.”
“For his small children and his wife to make a living, the government should make some arrangements. A government job, if possible, if provided by Maharaji, then it would be even better,” he added.
Strike Investigation Continues
Chaurasia was among three Indian sailors killed in the June 10 US strike on the Palau-flagged ST Settebello, while 21 other crew members were rescued. US forces also targeted two additional vessels with an Indian crew earlier this week.
US CENTCOM stated that the vessel was targeted by a ‘precision munition’ to its engine room near to the Strait of Hormuz, alleging it was carrying Iranian oil and had failed to ‘comply with directions from American forces’. Meanwhile, the vessel’s operator iOS Marine denied the claims that the vessel was loaded with Iranian oil or bound for Iran.
Regional Tensions Rise
The incident comes amid the ongoing standoff between the US and Iran, with Tehran reportedly blocking the Strait of Hormuz to ‘unfriendly ships’, while Washington has directed its forces to intercept or strike vessels suspected of heading to Iranian ports or carrying Iranian oil.
Article by Viory
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