Indian Ship Hit by Gunfire in Strait of Hormuz; Sailor from Gujarat Killed, several Injured

Dubai: Another Indian vessel has fallen victim to gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a representative of a seafarers' organization, the incident occurred last Friday when a sailor from Gujarat was killed and five others were injured after their vessel was caught in crossfire between two factions in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials from the Directorate General of Shipping confirmed the incident but did not provide detailed information regarding it. They stated that they are providing assistance in the matter.

What was the incident?

The vessel in question was a wooden ship, identified as 'Al Faiz Noor-e-Sulemani 1'. It carried a crew of 18 individuals. The ship departed from Dubai on May 7 and was en route to Mukalla, Yemen, when—at approximately 1:00 AM on May 8—it came under fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. It is worth noting that the Strait of Hormuz has remained a focal point of conflict following the hostilities between Iran and the United States. For a considerable period, Iran has imposed restrictions prohibiting the passage of any vessel through the strait without prior authorization. Consequently, this situation has also contributed to a rise in crude oil prices.

In a letter addressed to officials, Adam Bhaya, General Secretary of the Indian Sailing Vessels Association (Gujarat), described the incident as an "unfortunate and violent clash" between the military forces of the United States and Iran. The deceased, Altaf Talab Ker, served as an engine driver aboard the vessel. He was a native of Salaya village in the Dwarka district of Gujarat. The remaining crew members were rescued at approximately 7:00 AM (local time) by the *MSV Prem Sagar-I* (BDI-1491) and arrived at Dubai Port by 6:00 PM on the same day. They are currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. A source revealed that officials from the Indian Embassy met with the rescued citizens shortly after the incident occurred.

What did the Ministry of External Affairs say?

Earlier on Thursday, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), stated that 11 Indian vessels had successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz, while 13 vessels remained present within the Persian Gulf. Addressing a press briefing, Jaiswal was asked about reports suggesting that Iranian vessels might pass through Pakistani—and subsequently Indian—maritime zones to evade a US blockade, and whether such passage would require special permission from Indian authorities.

Jaiswal stated, "Regarding the reports that Iranian vessels might pass through Indian maritime zones to evade a blockade: if vessels from other nations wish to navigate through international waters, no permission is required. However, regarding the question of entering Indian territorial waters, this is a technical matter that would need to be addressed by the Ministry of Shipping or the relevant technical authorities."