Kamal Ghorui
MUMBAI: The charred remains of Kandivli seafarer Dixit Solanki (32), who was killed in an alleged missile strike on his tanker off the Oman coast on March 1, were transported to Mumbai from Sharjah early on Sunday. The sailor counts among the first Indian victims of the West Asia conflict.His family has refused to perform the last rites until a DNA test confirms his identity. On Monday, the family’s advocate will seek directions from the Bombay HC, asking that govt refer the matter to the Kalina forensic laboratory. The advocate used the word “remains” while speaking to TOI, saying there was no “body” or “corpse”. The shipping ministry has said there was only one casualty onboard and identification was established. The remains were ferried aboard a cargo flight to Mumbai, confirmed a DG, shipping, official.Dixit’s father, Amratlal (64), and his sister Mitali (33) had petitioned the HC on Thursday, seeking swift repatriation of his remains, given that a month had passed since his death. The coffin arrived within three days of the plea. At 7 am on Sunday, Amratlal, a former seafarer, collected the body after getting the Sahar Police’s clearance certificate. The family then transported the corpse to JJ Hospital, Byculla, seeking DNA identification. The sailor’s sister Mitali told TOI, “We want a DNA test and are in contact with govt authorities.”The father claims that he has not been given any written documentation of a positive DNA test. He said he will perform the final rites only after confirmation,” said an officer from Charkop police station under whose jurisdiction the family lives. The Solankis hail from Ghogla in Diu and live in Kandivli’s Mahavir Nagar.
