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DNA of bones found in captain's cabin did not match - fate of master a mystery
The Supreme Court in New Delhi asked the Union government to solve the mystery of Captain Ashish Kumar, who went missing after the missile attack on the ‘Skylight’ in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1. He was presumed dead, after bones were found in his burnt-out cabin. However, DNA tests later showed that the mortal remains were not his. His wife, Anshu Kumari, petitioned SC, claiming that the DNA test and the medical evidence invalidated the presumption of his death and claimed that the survival and captivity of the captain were evidenced by ransom calls received by the petitioner on March 4 from international numbers, including UAE and Pakistan, demanding Rs 20 lakh. Moreover, whatsapp messages were delivered in his phone, hours after the vessel was struck. His whatsapp profile was manually deleted on March 31. The electronic footprints strongly suggested the physical operation of his device post-incident. The Union government has failed to initiate a specialized investigation or utilize diplomatic channcels to trace the missing man. A bench led by CJI Surya Kant asked the solicitor general Thushar Mehta to inquire about Kumar’s whereabouts and file a status report.
Indian seafarers died due to a lack of equipment
The two Indian seafarers who died during theattack on the 'Skylight' near the coast of Oman on March 1 may not have had the equipment needed to break portholes and escape, as the fire engulfed the vessel .The tanker had caught fire from both sides, trapping the men inside the accommodation area. As the flames spread quickly, escape routes became limited. Captain Ashish Kumar, from Bihar, was trapped inside the master’s cabin, while another crew member, Dalip Singh from Rajasthan, was trapped in the accommodation block. Both were unable to escape as the fire spread across the vessel. The only possible escape route from the accommodation area was through the front portholes. However, it appeared that there may not have been adequate equipment available on board to break the glass panels and escape. The fire had surrounded the accommodation from both sides, cutting off normal exit routes. Without tools to break the portholes, the trapped seafarers had no immediate way out. Officials have recovered severely charred skeletal remains from the captain’s cabin, which were believed to be those of Ashish Kumar. DNA testing was being conducted to confirm the identity. Arrangements were being made for the captain’s family to travel to Dubai for the forensic tests. Dalip Singh has not been found and was currently presumed dead. In a separate incident, another Indian seafarer was killed in an attack in the same region. Dixit Solanki, an oiler from Mumbai, died after a suspected missile strike hit the engine room of the tanker 'MKD Vyom', which was operating off the coast of Oman. The strike hit the engine room area, trapping the man inside before he could escape.
Burning tanker at risk of sinking
The 'Skylight', after being struck by a USV on March 1 by Iranian forces approximately five nautical miles north of the port of Khasab in Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, was engulfed by the fire and at risk of sinking completely, potentially releasing some of its cargo into the waters of the Gulf. The attack, claimed by Iran as a measure against an “illegal” passage through the strait in violation of orders issued by Tehran following the announced closure of the waterway in response to US-Israeli airstrikes, marked the first confirmed strike on a civilian vessel in the waterway since the start of the military escalation between Tehran on one side, and Washington and Jerusalem on the other. Nearby vessels had responded to the 'Skylight's distress call, evacuating the crew to coastal facilities where the injured received treatment for burns and various traumas. The 'Skylight' was operated by Red Sea Ship Management and sanctioned for its alleged role in transporting Iranian petroleum products through the Persian Gulf. The UKMTO has received confirmation that the ship was attacked by an unmanned surface vehicle (USV). The bodies of Captain Ashish Kumar from Bettiah, Bihar, and Dalip Singh from Rajasthan, who were killed in the attack, were recovered by rescue teams after the blaze was brought under control.
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