Odia sailor missing in Singapore: Family returns home, demands criminal investigation

The mother and uncle of missing Merchant Navy cadet Sarthak Mohapatra returned on Tuesday from Singapore, disappointed after failing to trace him.

Also Read: No trace of missing Odia sailor after vessel inspection by family, govt officials in Singapore

Addressing a press conference upon their return, Sarthak’s uncle demanded a criminal investigation into the mysterious disappearance, alleging that key facts may have been concealed.

According to the family, they were only allowed access to Sarthak’s cabin onboard the vessel but were restricted from visiting other areas. Attempts to interact with crew members were reportedly disallowed.

They also alleged that officials of the ‘Anglo-Eastern’ did not extend adequate cooperation during their visit. More concerning, the family claimed that even after 12 days of Sarthak being reported missing, CCTV footage had not yet been reviewed.

They further expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the company’s HR personnel in Singapore, stating that the search efforts appeared insufficient.

The family has now urged authorities to launch a thorough criminal investigation to uncover the truth behind the disappearance.

“We were not extended any cooperation in Singapore from the company side. They (the ship authorities) objected whenever I tried to query any of the crew members. Even, we were not informed about anything relating to the boy going missing,” Sarthak’s uncle said.

Worth mentioning, Sarthak, a 23-year-old native of Odisha, reportedly went missing under mysterious circumstances on February 3 while on duty aboard the merchant vessel EA Jersey, operated by the Anglo-Eastern Shipping Company. The company had informed authorities about his disappearance on the same day, after he could not be located on board.

Search operations were then launched following the incident. However, more than a week later, there is still no confirmed information about his whereabouts, leaving the family in distress and seeking answers.

Reported By: Jyoti Prakash Pati