3 weeks ago
Black Sea attack victim's remains reach Kanpur as family protests
A man named Sagar Gupta worked on a big ship called MV Omorfi.
He lived in a city in India called Kanpur with his family.
One day, a drone attacked his ship in the Black Sea while his country was involved in a conflict.
Sagar bravely helped eight other people reach safety before he was hurt and sadly died.
His body was sent back to his family after 18 long days.
Sagar's wife, mother and other relatives were very sad when they saw the coffin.
They want the government to honour him by calling him a hero, or 'martyr'.
They also asked for money and a job for Sagar's wife.
The family said they will not hold his goodbye ceremony until the government agrees to their requests.
Many government leaders visited the family, and officials say they are looking into the matter.
Sagar Gupta, a 37-year-old Merchant Navy chief officer, was killed in a drone attack on the commercial vessel MV Omorfi in the Black Sea on July 18, 2026.
His mortal remains were brought to his family's home in Shastri Nagar, Kanpur, 18 days after the incident.
The family has refused to perform the last rites until the government grants martyr status, Rs 2 crore compensation and a government job for Sagar's wife.
Sagar was praised for 'exceptional courage' after first helping eight crew members reach safety before being struck by another drone attack.
Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal said the district administration and police jointly wrote to the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs, which facilitated repatriation of the body.
Public representatives including Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi, MLAs Surendra Maithani and Amitabh Bajpai, and District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh visited the family to offer condolences.
- Who
- Sagar Gupta, 37, a Merchant Navy chief officer from Kanpur, and his family, including wife Shalu, mother Ramadevi and niece Puja Gupta.
- What
- Sagar was killed when his vessel MV Omorfi came under a drone attack in the Black Sea; his family refused to perform his last rites until the government meets their demands for martyr status, Rs 2 crore compensation and a government job for his wife.
- Where
- The Black Sea, amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict; the family home is in Shastri Nagar, Kanpur, India.
- When
- The attack occurred on July 18, 2026, and his body reached Kanpur 18 days later.
- Why
- The family wants official recognition of Sagar as a martyr, financial compensation and a government job for his widow before allowing the last rites.
Key facts
- Victim
- Sagar Gupta, 37, Merchant Navy chief officer
- Vessel
- MV Omorfi
- Incident
- Drone attack in the Black Sea on July 18, 2026
- Body repatriated
- Returned to family in Kanpur 18 days after the attack
- Family demands
- Martyr status, Rs 2 crore compensation, government job for Sagar's wife
- Bravery
- Helped eight crew members reach safety before being struck by another drone
- Family members
- Wife Shalu, daughter Gauri (5), son Krishna (age reported as 7 or 8 months), mother Ramadevi
- Repatriation process
- District administration and police wrote to the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs
Quotes
Puja Gupta
Sagar Gupta’s niece and family spokesperson
“"Anyone who wants to come can come, but the body will not be taken for the last rites. If martyr status is not granted, we will all die here by pouring kerosene on ourselves."”
rediff.com
Sources
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