Indian crew member freed from Houthi captivity in Yemen

India on Thursday welcomed the release of Indian crew member Anilkumar Raveendran, who was on the ship MV Eternity C and under detention in Yemen since 7 July this year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Raveendran (52), an Army veteran from Kayamkulam in Kerala, had been held captive by Houthi rebels in conflict-ravaged Yemen. A native of Pathiyoor, he had been detained by security forces under the Houthi-controlled Yemeni administration since July 7. He was working as a security officer aboard the Liberian-flagged cargo vessel MV Eternity C when it was attacked and eventually sunk in the Red Sea.

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“Anilkumar Raveendran reached Muscat yesterday and is expected to travel back to India soon,” the MEA said in a statement.

“The Government of India had been coordinating efforts with various parties to ensure his safe release and return. The Government of India would like to thank the Sultanate of Oman for facilitating the release of Mr. Anilkumar Raveendran,” the statement added.

The MV Eternity C, bound for the Israeli port of Eilat, was targeted as Houthi militants stepped up attacks on international shipping amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

The rebels seized the vessel before destroying it. The ship had crew members from India, the Philippines, Russia and Greece on board at the time of the attack.

Four crew members were killed during the assault, while six others, including Augustin from Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram, were rescued by the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and repatriated within a week.

However, 11 members of the crew, including Raveendran, continued to remain in captivity until his release.

Raveendran joined the shipping company five years ago through the Palakkad-based agency Ocean Group Overseas Consultancy.