Port Blair, Sept. 23: Twelve years after the ill-fated cargo vessel M.V. Vasanta went missing with 11 on board, after all tears dries up and hopes shatter; it came as a bolt from the blue to the family members when the media reported that the 11 missing are alive.
The report came on the basis of continuous perseverance by a family member of one of the 11 missing. His determination had forced the Bharatiya Janata Party to send a SOS to the MHA, leader of the ruling party, leader of the opposition and others to help bringing back the ill fated 11, who are in custody at Myanmar prison.
M.V. Vasanta went missing on 2nd July 1999 after it set for sail to Hut Bay from Port Blair. It was carrying 40 tonnes of diesel, 10 tonnes of food grain and 10 tonnes of cement along with 9 crew on board and 2 passengers of M/S Jadwet Trading Co.
The report came on the basis of continuous perseverance by a family member of one of the 11 missing. His determination had forced the Bharatiya Janata Party to send a SOS to the MHA, leader of the ruling party, leader of the opposition and others to help bringing back the ill fated 11, who are in custody at Myanmar prison.
M.V. Vasanta went missing on 2nd July 1999 after it set for sail to Hut Bay from Port Blair. It was carrying 40 tonnes of diesel, 10 tonnes of food grain and 10 tonnes of cement along with 9 crew on board and 2 passengers of M/S Jadwet Trading Co.
Two days after the vessel did not reach its destination, a missing report was lodged, which was followed by continuous search operation by the A&N Police, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. But all efforts were in vain as the vessel could not be traced. Efforts were also made by the Fortress Headquarters to contact the Rescue Coordination Centre, Kaula Lampur and Bangkok as well as NAVEREA VIII and also the Defence Attache, Myanmar but again it did not bear any fruit.
A Special Court was then constituted by the Lt. Governor on 16th December 1999 on the orders of the Hon’ble High Court wherein the District Magistrate, Andamans was appointed as the Chairman and the Director of Shipping Services and Chief Port Administrator, A&N Islands as members. The constitution of the special court was a result of a writ petition filed by Hinterland Seaman Union, A&N Islands.
The constituted special court had several sittings following the orders of the Lt. Governor. All details of search operation by various institutions were reviewed again. During the course of investigation it was finally revealed by the Central Crime Station, A&N Police that one Mr. U. Santin, S/o U. Pulay, 64 yrs, R/o Myanmar had come to Port Blair in connection with the apprehended fishing trawlers. Santin had informed that he had come to know through one Mr. Arug Thian, that the Burmese Military had apprehended an Indian vessel at Preparis Islands near Quarter Light House, where the boat was taken into custody by Military. He also informed that the 11 crew members were sent to jail of Baysein Bay by the Military.
U. Santin also had informed that he contacted the Major of Burma Military, who confirmed the news about apprehension of Indian boat. The matter was thus informed to the Dy. Secretary (Home), A&N Administration for taking up with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Based on this report from the Superintendent of Police (Andamans), the Andaman Administration had informed the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi on 8th March 2000 and requested to take further necessary action in the matter. Following this, the matter was taken up several times with all concerned Ministries of GoI in the following years by various parties. Later on 31st March 2003, the CBI had submitted that the 9 crew and the 2 passengers on board are alive and are in custody of the Myanmar Govt.
A Special Court was then constituted by the Lt. Governor on 16th December 1999 on the orders of the Hon’ble High Court wherein the District Magistrate, Andamans was appointed as the Chairman and the Director of Shipping Services and Chief Port Administrator, A&N Islands as members. The constitution of the special court was a result of a writ petition filed by Hinterland Seaman Union, A&N Islands.
The constituted special court had several sittings following the orders of the Lt. Governor. All details of search operation by various institutions were reviewed again. During the course of investigation it was finally revealed by the Central Crime Station, A&N Police that one Mr. U. Santin, S/o U. Pulay, 64 yrs, R/o Myanmar had come to Port Blair in connection with the apprehended fishing trawlers. Santin had informed that he had come to know through one Mr. Arug Thian, that the Burmese Military had apprehended an Indian vessel at Preparis Islands near Quarter Light House, where the boat was taken into custody by Military. He also informed that the 11 crew members were sent to jail of Baysein Bay by the Military.
U. Santin also had informed that he contacted the Major of Burma Military, who confirmed the news about apprehension of Indian boat. The matter was thus informed to the Dy. Secretary (Home), A&N Administration for taking up with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Based on this report from the Superintendent of Police (Andamans), the Andaman Administration had informed the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi on 8th March 2000 and requested to take further necessary action in the matter. Following this, the matter was taken up several times with all concerned Ministries of GoI in the following years by various parties. Later on 31st March 2003, the CBI had submitted that the 9 crew and the 2 passengers on board are alive and are in custody of the Myanmar Govt.
During the course of investigation by the Police, followed by the District Magistrate, many suspicions had come up regarding the case. Just a day before M.V. Vasanta set for sail, 5 Myanmarese prisoners who were waiting for repatriation after completing their sentence went missing. All efforts to trace them had failed. It was also suspected that the five had hijacked the vessel. There were also statements regarding the conflict between the owner of M.V. Vasanta, M.S. Tirupathi and his business allies, which might have resulted in the missing of the vessel. But all these perceptions subsided with the revelation of Mr. Santin and later the CBI.
It has been 8 years after the revelation now. Unfortunately the Andaman Administration and the Govt. of India could not do justice with the 11 missing and the family members who still wait in anticipation. With the kind of gestures projected by the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Bhopinder Singh in helping the needy of the islands, it can be hoped that justice will be done to the ill-fated 11 and their family as this is the last hope of the ailing souls …
The 11 missing are: Jayakumar, Punnam Mistry, Kurma Rao, Namasivayam, Sajid, Andresh, Rao, Bala, Souju, Maria Swamy and Bheshnam.
It has been 8 years after the revelation now. Unfortunately the Andaman Administration and the Govt. of India could not do justice with the 11 missing and the family members who still wait in anticipation. With the kind of gestures projected by the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Bhopinder Singh in helping the needy of the islands, it can be hoped that justice will be done to the ill-fated 11 and their family as this is the last hope of the ailing souls …
The 11 missing are: Jayakumar, Punnam Mistry, Kurma Rao, Namasivayam, Sajid, Andresh, Rao, Bala, Souju, Maria Swamy and Bheshnam.
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