Indians grieve and call for action after US strike kills sailors

Sushila Devi wept in her Deoria home after learning her husband, Shivanand Chaurasia, was among three Indian sailors killed in a U.S. strike on a ship off Oman. Chaurasia, the sole earner for his family of four, was aboard the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello when it was hit. The U.S. military's Central Command claimed the strike was necessary after the crew repeatedly ignored directions. This incident occurred more than three months into the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

India has formally protested the strike, summoning the U.S. chargé d’affaires to convey its deep concern. The foreign ministry stated that the use of lethal force against civilian shipping is unacceptable and undermines maritime stability. The U.S. embassy in Delhi has not yet responded to a request for comment. The deaths have intensified calls for India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take stronger action to protect Indian seafarers.

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If he had told us about the dangers, I would have called him back. The government should not allow people to go there.

Critics argue that India, a major supplier of seafarers, is paying a heavy price for a conflict it did not initiate. This incident follows another attack on a ship with 20 Indian crew members on Thursday, though no casualties were reported in that instance. The government faces pressure to ensure the safety of its citizens navigating these dangerous waters.

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Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region at a difficult time.