Supreme Court directs MEA to trace seafarer missing after Black Sea attack
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to use diplomatic channels to trace an Indian seafarer who went missing after his cargo ship was struck by drones in the Black Sea on July 25. The court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek instructions from the Indian Embassy in Ukraine and the Embassy of India in Bucharest, Romania, and enquire about the whereabouts of Deepak Kumar Gupta, a crew member aboard the merchant vessel MV AGN Ragnar.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued the direction while hearing a plea filed by Sandeep Kumar Gupta, the elder brother of the missing seafarer. The plea sought directions to the MEA to coordinate with Indian embassies in Ukraine and Romania to undertake search and rescue operations. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Friday, August 7.
The plea stated that the family made persistent requests to the Union of India and the Indian embassies in the two countries between July 26 and July 30, but did not receive any response or positive assurance. The family, residing in Bharataul village in Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh, has been anxiously awaiting news of Deepak Kumar Gupta since the attack near Ukraine's Odesa port.
According to family members, the 22-year-old seafarer was working as a crew member on the merchant vessel when it came under attack. His family originally hails from Siwan district in Bihar but has been settled in Bareilly for several years. The attack on the vessel is part of a series of incidents affecting commercial shipping in the Black Sea amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
The Supreme Court's intervention comes after the family's repeated efforts to seek official help reportedly did not yield results. Legal experts note that such cases highlight the vulnerability of Indian seafarers working in conflict-affected zones and the need for proactive diplomatic engagement to ensure their safety.
The court's direction to the MEA is seen as a significant step toward ensuring that the matter is taken up with urgency through official channels. The Solicitor General has been asked to report back on the steps taken, including any information received from the embassies.
The incident has also raised broader questions about the risks faced by Indian crew members on merchant vessels operating in waters where hostilities are ongoing. Seafarers' welfare organisations have previously urged the government to establish clearer protocols for tracking and assisting Indian nationals employed on ships in such regions.
The family of Deepak Kumar Gupta has expressed hope that the Supreme Court's directive will expedite the search efforts. Meanwhile, the MEA is expected to provide an update to the court on Friday, including details of any communication with Ukrainian and Romanian authorities.
