Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Family Questions Indian Sailor’s Death During Somalia Rescue
Mohammed Tanweeruz Zaman was working on a ship when pirates took it near Somalia.
His family says they spent months trying to get help and learn what was happening.
They were told the pirates wanted money to release the crew.
In September, the family learned that Zaman had died during a rescue operation.
His nephew says a captain showed the family pictures and video of Zaman’s body.
The family saw many injuries and doubts that the injuries came from the rescue.
These are the family’s concerns, and the article does not give an official answer about how the injuries happened.
The family now wants Zaman’s body brought back to India.
Mohammed Tanweeruz Zaman was among crew members taken captive when the MT Honour 25 was hijacked off Somalia on April 21.
His nephew says pirates initially demanded $7 million, later reducing the ransom demand to $1 million.
The family was told on September 29 that Zaman had died during a rescue operation in which five people reportedly died.
The family says images and video showed wounds, bruises and marks that made them doubt he died in crossfire.
The family is asking Indian authorities to help return Zaman’s body; the article does not report an official explanation of his injuries.
- Who
- Indian sailor Mohammed Tanweeruz Zaman, his family, and crew members held aboard the MT Honour 25.
- What
- Zaman died while held captive aboard the hijacked tanker; his family questions the account that he was killed by gunfire during a rescue.
- When
- The tanker was hijacked on April 21; the family was told of Zaman’s death on September 29. The article does not specify the year.
- Where
- The tanker was hijacked off Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region.
- Why
- The family says visible wounds, bruises and marks on Zaman’s body do not appear consistent with the reported crossfire account.
Family’s concerns
Reported rescue account
How Zaman was injured and died
Family’s concerns
Zaman’s family says the wounds, bruises and dark marks visible in photographs and video raise doubts that his injuries resulted from crossfire or the rescue operation, and they suspect he may have been tortured.
Reported rescue account
According to the account relayed to the family by the captain, a pirate opened fire during the rescue operation and Zaman was killed. The article provides no official response or independent account resolving the discrepancy.
Ransom negotiations
Family’s concerns
The family alleges that the ship owner did not pay the ransom after the demand was reduced to $1 million.
Reported rescue account
Zaman’s nephew said the ship owner told the family he was trying to negotiate with the pirates. The article does not establish whether a ransom was paid.
- Vessel
- MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker
- Hijacking
- April 21, off Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region
- Cargo
- Around 18,500 barrels of oil
- Reported ransom demand
- Initially $7 million, later reduced to $1 million, according to Zaman’s nephew
- Reported deaths
- The family was told five people died during the rescue operation; Zaman was reportedly the only Indian among them
- Pirates
- Reports cited in the article say the Puntland Maritime Police Force retook the vessel and apprehended 16 suspected pirates
- Family’s request
- Help bringing Zaman’s body back to India