NEW DELHI. The final message of an Indian sailor killed in a US military strike this week has been obtained by his family, as the Indian government formally protested the incident to American officials. The sailor, identified as 32-year-old Deckhand Vikram Singh, sent a text to his wife hours before his death, saying “I will come home safely.” He was among 11 crew members aboard the commercial vessel MV Mercantile Pride when it was struck by a US drone in international waters off the coast of Somalia on Tuesday.
The US Central Command said the vessel was targeted because it was “hostile” and had ignored warnings, though no weapons were found after the strike. An internal military review is under way. India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned the US charge d’affaires on Wednesday to convey “deep concern and regret” over the loss of life, with officials stressing that the crew had been fully compliant with maritime protocols.
“The Indian government has demanded a thorough investigation and accountability,” a ministry statement said. The US Embassy in New Delhi expressed condolences but maintained that the strike was carried out in self-defence. The incident has strained ties between two strategic partners, with Indian parliamentarians from both ruling and opposition parties calling for a firm response.
Diplomatic sources indicate that India may suspend joint naval exercises scheduled for later this year unless satisfactory assurances are provided. The US has not yet issued a public apology. Singh’s body is expected to be repatriated to his home state of Kerala on Friday, where his wife and two young children await. Family members have refused to speak to the press, but a close friend said they were “devastated and seeking justice.”
Analysts say the episode could have wider implications for maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, where both nations have aligned interests in countering piracy and ensuring freedom of navigation. For now, the focus remains on the human cost of a split-second decision that has become a diplomatic crisis.
