Hours before three Indian seafarers killed in a United States military strike off the coast of Oman were officially declared dead, Rajesh Sharma had taken to social media seeking help to locate his son, Aditya Sharma.
However, as his emotional appeals gained attention online, several users began circulating screenshots of Rajesh Sharma’s past social media posts containing Islamophobic remarks and calls for violence against Muslims, sparking intense debate across digital platforms.
Aditya Sharma, a 23-year-old deck cadet from Himachal Pradesh, was among the three Indian sailors killed after the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello was struck by the US military in the Gulf of Oman earlier this week. Twenty-one other Indian crew members were rescued.
Old Posts Calling for “Ethnic Cleansing” Go Viral
One of the most widely shared posts attributed to Rajesh Sharma dates back to October 2023, during Israel’s military assault on Gaza following the Hamas attack.
Responding to a post about the history of Israel and Palestine, Sharma allegedly wrote, “I think Israel should now ethnically cleanse whole Gaza and make it non-Muslim territory. This is only solution to maintain peace there.”
In the same thread, he reportedly praised Israeli intelligence and military agencies, writing, “Kudos to Mossad and IDF.”
Other screenshots shared online showed additional remarks targeting Muslims. In one alleged 2024 post, Sharma wrote that by the end of the 21st century “every Muslim in this world would either be eliminated or converted to a peaceful religion.”
Another post allegedly described Muslims as “vultures” and accused them of enjoying Hindu suffering. Social media users also circulated comments in which Sharma made controversial remarks about Muslim women wearing hijab and burqa.
The resurfacing of these posts led to sharp reactions online, with many users accusing Sharma of spreading hate speech and communal rhetoric even as he appealed for sympathy following his son’s death.
Father Had Earlier Appealed for Help
Before the deaths were officially confirmed, Rajesh Sharma had posted messages seeking urgent help and updates about his son after the attack on MT Settebello.
Sharing a message allegedly received from the shipping company, he wrote that the vessel had been attacked by missiles fired by the US Navy and that three crew members were missing.
Sharma also claimed that his son had earlier complained about harassment by a senior officer on the ship and wanted to quit the vessel months ago.
“My son reported exploitation by seniors on the ship and wanted to leave in April,” he said, adding that he had records of their conversations.
Family Demands Accountability for US Strike
After Aditya Sharma’s death was confirmed, the family demanded accountability for the attack on the commercial vessel.
Speaking to media outlets, Rajesh Sharma questioned why a civilian ship had been targeted with missiles.
“I request the government to take a strong stand against the US. It is a war crime to attack a commercial ship with missiles,” he said.
He added that there were other ways to stop or inspect vessels instead of using deadly force.
Aditya’s uncle, Himanshu Sharma, also called the attack “an inhuman act and a crime against humanity” and urged authorities to bring the sailor’s mortal remains back home quickly.
India Protests Attack on Commercial Vessel
India has strongly protested the attack on the tanker and raised the matter with the United States government after three Indian nationals were killed.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that a formal protest was lodged with American officials over the strike and concerns regarding the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the Gulf region.
The deaths have also renewed concerns over the safety of commercial shipping routes in the Gulf amid rising tensions between the US and Iran.
