“Where Is My Son”: Missing Navy Sailor's Father Seeks Centre's Intervention

New Delhi:

It has been eight days since Navyman Sahil Verma mysteriously disappeared from a ship. A massive Navy dragnet, involving several ships and aircraft, as of now, has yielded no trace of the seaman. Desperate for answers and seeking an intervention from the Centre, Mr Verma’s father gave out an anguished cry, “Where is my son?” 

Mr Verma’s parents, Subash Chander and Rama Kumari, reside in the Ghou Manhasan area of Jammu. The mysterious disappearance of their son has compelled the family to seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case. The family has also sought urgent mediation from the highest echelons of the Indian government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, to ensure the safe return of their missing son.

Mr Chander expressed astonishment that a soldier could vanish from a naval ship without a trace. “It is astonishing that a soldier went missing from his naval ship and is not traceable. I have been told that the CCTV cameras installed on the ship did not find anyone falling into the sea. Then where is my son?” Mr Chander was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The family, left in the dark about the incident until two days after their son’s disappearance, is demanding justice. 

“We got a call on February 29 informing that our son went missing on board the ship two days before that … we last talked to him on Sunday (February 25) and nothing is known (about) what happened to him,” Mr Chander added. 

The Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command stated that a high-level board of inquiry has been initiated to find Mr Verma. 

“In an unfortunate incident, Sahil Verma, Seaman II, has been reported missing at sea from (an) Indian Naval Ship whilst on deployment since February 27, 2024. The Navy immediately launched a massive search operation with ships and aircraft, which is still continuing,” it said in a post on X on Saturday.

In an unfortunate incident, Sahil Verma, Seaman II, has been reported missing at sea from Indian Naval Ship whilst on deployment since 27 Feb 24. The Navy immediately launched a massive search operation with ships and aircraft, which is still continuing. pic.twitter.com/bEHLkhye5o

— Western Naval Command (@IN_WNC) March 2, 2024

Mr Verma’s mother, Rama Kumari, suspects a cover-up, alleging that information is being concealed. 

“There were 400 people on board the ship and only my son went missing. My prayers and demands are only that my son returns safe and sound,” she said.

Gautam, a maternal uncle of the missing seaman, claimed that the ship returned to base for a day before setting sail again. 

“We have heard that the ship returned to base for a day before leaving again. How is it possible that he went missing from the ship?” he asked. The family should have been informed and a board of inquiry ordered within 24 hours of the incident. But both of these things happened after two days,” he said.