News and pics: Steephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)
Kasargod, Aug 21: Five years have passed by since Pradeep Raj, a ship employee went missing. Pradeep Raj was the backbone of his family. His parents Nagesh Chettiar and Chandravati are spending their days in tears.
Pradeep Raj was working in a Singapore-based company as an oiler . The message sent by the company to his family of his disappearance had shocked and perplexed his family. The message only said that Pradeep Raj had gone missing.
Pradeep had joined Sibamar company through Mumbai's Marlo Navigation India Company in October 2008. He went missing within a few months of joining the company.
Pradeep Raj, the only son of his parents was sending the major portion of his earnings home, helping his family repay the loan taken to build the house and for education. He had telephoned them on April
24, 2009 saying that he ws in the ship called MA Eltanin sailing from Spain to China. There were no more calls after that.
The shocking telegram of his disappearance was received by his parents within seven days after the call. The message said that Pradeep Raj had gone missing in the Pacific ocean. The second telegram received after a few days stated that he was not traceable. Communication with the company was of no avail.
Though there were 22 people including 13 Indians in the ship, the officials did not come forward to obtain any information.
Several attempts and protests were held during the last five years. Appeals were sent to the union minister, Kerala chief minister, ministers and the people representatives.
Pradeep Raj's parents have three children. The remaining two are daughters Sajitha and Prajitha who are married. His mother is staying at Prajitha's house in Payyanur.
The ship which was called MA Eltanin has changed its name as Stella Eltanin after Pradeep's disappearance. A habeas corpus appeal was filed in Kerala high court a few days after his disappearance. However, the appeal was rejected as the incident had occurred in the Indian ocean.