Daijiworld Media Network – Deoria
Deoria, Jul 2: The family of a 33-year-old Indian seafarer has sought a high-level investigation after his body was repatriated from Venezuela with several internal organs allegedly missing.
Rakesh Chauhan, a resident of Langra Bazar Tola in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district, had travelled to Venezuela in November 2025 as a crew member on a merchant ship through a private company, his family said.
According to the family, the company informed them in May that Chauhan had suffered serious injuries after a fall and was undergoing treatment. The following day, they were told that his chances of survival were only five per cent, before later being informed of his death.
The company attributed his death to injuries sustained in the fall and repatriated his body to Deoria in June.
On the orders of the district magistrate, a second post-mortem was conducted in Uttar Pradesh despite officials stating that an autopsy had already been carried out in Venezuela.
Dr H K Mishra, Chief Medical Superintendent of Deoria Medical College, who conducted the second post-mortem, said several major internal organs, including the brain, heart, both lungs, liver, both kidneys, spleen, pancreas, stomach and intestines, were missing.
The report also stated that the thyroid, hyoid bone, larynx and trachea were absent.
Rakesh's father, Ramdev Chauhan, alleged that the family was not informed about the circumstances surrounding his son's death and had not been provided with the post-mortem report or other official documents related to the examination conducted abroad.
He demanded an impartial investigation by the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, action against the company concerned, and strict punishment for those found responsible.
The Federation of Seafarers' Unions of India (FSUI) described the matter as serious and said the body had been sent to India without the post-mortem report and other mandatory documents.
The federation demanded that the Venezuelan authorities be held accountable, the Indian Embassy intervene immediately, the complete post-mortem report be made public, the circumstances surrounding the seafarer's death be thoroughly investigated, and the bereaved family be provided justice and adequate compensation.