Kanpur family blocks cremation of seafarer killed in Black Sea drone strike, demands martyr status

The relatives of Merchant Navy chief officer Sagar Gupta have refused to cremate his body until the government grants martyr status, compensation and a job for his widow.

A drone strike on the merchant vessel MV Omorfi in the Black Sea killed chief officer Sagar Gupta, who was hailed for rescuing crew members before being hit. After his body was repatriated to his hometown of Shastri Nagar in Kanpur, the family placed it in a deep freezer and announced they would not proceed with cremation until the government confers martyr status, pays Rs 2 crore, and secures a public-sector job for his spouse, Shalu.

The family, including his mother Ramadevi, brother Manish and niece Puja, expressed frustration over the 18-day delay in returning the remains. Police commissioner Raghubir Lal said the district administration had written to the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs, prompting the central government to arrange the repatriation, but he declined further comment on the demands. Local leaders such as MP Ramesh Awasthi and MLAs Surendra Maithani and Amitabh Bajpai visited the home to convey sympathy, yet no official response has been given. The case highlights the challenges faced by Indian seafarers caught in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.