Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Sept 23: The crew members of MV Harshavardhana have called off their agitation today after they got a written assurance from the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) that they will provide all assistance to the crew Mr Sheik Habibur Rahaman, who was arrested in recent accident case onboard MV Harshavardhana.
“The SCI has assured to bear the expense of lawyer for Mr Sheik Habibur Rahaman and all travelling expenditure required attending the case in future. SCI has also assured that they will take up the matter with the Director General of Police to withdraw the case against the seaman Sheik Habibur Rahaman,” said Mr. Dinesh Ram, the Organising Secreatary, Forward Seamen’s Union of India.
On September 18th, a Derik of MV Harshavardhana collapsed, which killed one crew member namely Mohd Shajahan, 55 years. Taking action in this case the Chatham Police arrested the Winch Operator of the ship Mr Sheik Habibur Rahaman for negligence, which triggered outrage among the crew members of the ship.
The ship MV Harshavardhana was schedule to sail yesterday at 05:30pm but all the seamen of the ship refused to sail because according to them it was an accident and the Winch Operator cannot be held responsible.
The crew members also alleged that after repeated reminders from the crew members to repair the rope wire the SCI haven’t repaired it thus the blame should be fixed upon the SCI.
However today after the assurance from the SCI the crew members called off the protest and the ship sailed. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India has also extended all possible support to the crew members of MV Harshavardhana.
