Family of HP merchant navy officer in US custody appeals to PM for help

KULLU: Wedding cards printed, location walls freshly painted, but the aerial is heavy with interest for the household of Himachal Pradesh merchant navy serviceman Rikshit Chauhan, 26, who is among 3 Indians detained aft the US Coast Guard seized a Russian-flagged lipid tanker successful the North Atlantic past week.

The household has turned to PM Modi for help, praying his instrumentality earlier an elder brother's wedding connected Feb 19. "We haven't slept since we came to cognize astir it," said his begetter Ranjit Chauhan, 54, astatine their location successful Sidhpur colony connected the outskirts of Dharamshala successful Kangra district. "I petition PM Modi to delight guarantee harmless instrumentality of my lad and 2 different Indians." Chauhan past spoke to Rikshit connected Jan 7. "He told maine not to interest if helium became unreachable due to the fact that of awesome problems."

That day, US authorities intercepted the vas adjacent Venezuelan waters and took the unit into custody. The household learnt of the detention connected Jan 8. "Painting was on, invitation cards were going retired erstwhile quality came," a comparative said Monday. "We anticipation helium returns truthful we tin observe some - his homecoming & the wedding.

" Rikshit near location connected Aug 1, 2025, archetypal sailing to Iran earlier joining the Russian tanker, which had been astatine oversea for 4 months and was headed towards Venezuela erstwhile seized. His relative Rahul said Kangra MP Rajeev Bharadwaj has assured them of taking up the substance with the outer affairs ministry.