Following the death of Hamirpur native Aditya Sharma in the attack on the MT Settebello in the Strait of Hormuz, his family has raised serious allegations against the ship’s command and working conditions on board. They have demanded a high-level inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the June 9 incident.
Aditya’s father, Rajesh Sharma, in a post on X, alleged that his son was subjected to exploitation by senior crew members. He further claimed that Aditya had attempted to resign in April but was allegedly coerced into withdrawing his complaint. After that, he was reportedly forced into what he describes as a “hell-like environment”, working nearly 20-hour shifts daily.
The family has also questioned decisions taken by the vessel’s leadership. In an interview with CNN-News18, Rajesh Sharma said the ship’s captain proceeded into the high-risk Gulf region despite reports of an earlier attack on another vessel in the area.
He further alleged that the crew deliberately disabled the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid tracking, raising questions about the ship’s operational protocols.
The family has urged the Ministry of External Affairs and Union Minister Anurag Thakur to order a detailed investigation to establish responsibility for the incident.
Their immediate priority remains the repatriation of Aditya Sharma’s mortal remains to Hamirpur for the final rites, as authorities coordinate the return of the deceased and the 21 rescued Indian crew members.
