Indian sailor returns home after being stuck on seized ship
Rikshit Chauhan, a 26-year-old merchant navy officer from Himachal Pradesh, is finally home after nearly three weeks stuck on a Russian oil tanker seized by the US Coast Guard.
The ship was taken on January 7 over alleged Venezuela links, and Chauhan's family had no word from him for days, making it a tense wait.
The marinera was stopped in North Atlantic
The Marinera was stopped in the North Atlantic after two weeks of surveillance.
Its 28 crew members—three Indians among them—had their phones taken away and were held onboard for almost 20 days.
Chauhan said they were treated "properly," but admitted he felt exhausted by the whole ordeal.
Other 2 sailors yet to return
The Indian government stepped in to help get Chauhan back just in time for his February wedding, though the status of two other Indian sailors was unclear.
Local leaders pushed hard with the Ministry of External Affairs to make sure he could come home safe.