The family of Aditya Sharma, a 22-23-year-old sailor from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, has demanded a formal enquiry and the earliest return of his mortal remains after he was confirmed dead following a US forces attack on a vessel off the coast of Oman earlier this week. Sharma was one of three Indian sailors declared dead in the incident, which Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described as a 'profound loss for India's maritime community.'

How the Family Learnt of the Tragedy

According to Aditya's uncle, the family first received word on the night of the incident when his father got a phone call around 9 pm stating that Aditya was missing. 'Last night, at around 9 p.m., my brother received a phone call informing him that he was missing. As soon as I got the information, I left everything and rushed straight to Jalandhar, where my brother was staying,' the uncle told reporters.

The family spent the entire night attempting to get clarity from the shipping company. 'They did cooperate, but were not telling us anything except that he was missing,' he said. It was only around 1:30–2 pm the following day that Aditya's name was formally declared among the dead.

Aditya Sharma: A Young Sailor on Probation

Aditya, who worked on the deck of the vessel, had been on probation and had completed roughly six months of service. He had originally been scheduled to return home on 24 May but had extended his stint by a month. His uncle said the family had raised him with great hopes. 'He was my nephew, just 22-23 years old. We had brought him up with so many dreams,' he said.

Family's Unanswered Questions

Beyond grief, the family is pressing for answers about the circumstances of the attack. Aditya's uncle questioned why the young sailor was at the location where the missile struck, reportedly at around 10–10:30 pm, and whether any assistance was rendered to those on board. 'The family wants to know what Aditya was doing at the spot where the missile landed, that too at 10–10:30 pm? Also, we need information on whether he was provided help or not,' he said.

Aditya's grandfather raised a separate concern about the ship's command: 'If the ship's captain was warned not to take the vessel ahead, how could he ignore the warning? We want to know this.'

Demand for Enquiry and Political Intervention

The family has appealed to Hamirpur Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur and the Central government to conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable. 'I would request MP Anurag Thakur and the Central government to conduct a proper enquiry and punish the culprits,' the uncle said.

The deaths of the three Indian seafarers — initially reported as missing — mark a grave escalation in maritime tensions in the Arabian Sea region. As diplomatic channels are expected to be activated, the Sharma family's demands reflect a broader call for transparency and accountability from both the Indian government and the shipping company involved.