Indian Crew Member Released After Months in Houthi Captivity: MEA

New Delhi- India on Thursday hailed the release of Indian crew member Anilkumar Raveendran, a former Army soldier from Kayamkulam in Kerala, who had been held captive by Houthi rebels in war-torn Yemen for nearly five months.

Raveendran, 52, originally from Pathiyoor, had been detained by Houthi-controlled security forces since July 7. He was serving as a security officer on the Liberian-flagged cargo ship MV Eternity C when it was attacked and later sunk in the Red Sea.

Announcing his release, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated: “The Government of India welcomes the release of Indian crew member Mr. Anilkumar Raveendran, who was on the ship MV Eternity C and under detention in Yemen since 07 July 2025.”

The MEA confirmed that Raveendran reached Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday and is expected to return to India soon. It added that the government had been coordinating with “various parties” to secure his freedom and expressed appreciation to the Sultanate of Oman for its crucial assistance in the process.

MV Eternity C, which was headed to the Israeli port of Eilat, was attacked amid intensified assaults on commercial vessels by Houthi militants during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The rebels captured the ship and later destroyed it. At the time of the attack, the vessel had crew members from India, the Philippines, Russia, and Greece.

Four crew members were killed in the attack, while six others — including Augustin from Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram — were rescued by the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and brought home within a week. However, 11 crew members, including Raveendran, remained in captivity until now.

Raveendran had joined the shipping company five years ago through the Palakkad-based Ocean Group Overseas Consultancy. Prior to his maritime career, he served 19 years in the Indian Army.

With inputs from IANS