‘Wounds, bruises and black marks’: Family questions Indian sailor’s death after 5 months in pirate captivity | Exclusive
Indian sailor Mohammed Tanweeruz Zaman was held captive for nearly five months after the MT Honour 25 was hijacked off Somalia. Reported killed during a rescue, his family questions the crossfire account, citing wounds and bruises, and alleges he may have been tortured.
Nearly five months after Indian sailor Mohammed Tanweeruz Zaman was taken captive on the MT Honour 25, his family's ordeal took a darker turn when they were informed he had been killed during a rescue operation. The family, led by Zaman's nephew Raja Altaj Khan, questioned the official account of his death, alleging that the injuries they saw on his body indicated he had been tortured while in captivity.
Khan stated that Zaman had managed to contact his family after the ship was hijacked, and the pirates initially demanded $7 million in ransom, eventually reducing it to $1 million. Despite the family's persistent efforts, the ransom was never paid. The family sought release for Zaman through various authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, but received no response.
On September 29th, the family received news that Zaman had been killed during the rescue operation. The captain confirmed Zaman's death, showing the family photographs and videos that revealed multiple visible injuries, bruises, and a gunshot wound to his arm. These injuries led the family to believe Zaman had been tortured during his captivity.
The family has since petitioned Indian authorities for the return of Zaman's body, stating that they have received no clear information or confirmation from government authorities.
Written by urgent.news from Live Mint's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
