India, Jan. 12 -- Rikshit Chauhan, a young merchant Navy officer from Palampur in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, is among the three Indians who were part of the crew aboard a Russian-flagged oil tanker seized by the United States in the North Atlantic on January 7.

According to the family, they last spoke to him the day the vessel, named Marinera or Bella 1, was boarded by the US forces. According to reports, the oil tanker has evaded the US pursuit for almost two weeks.

The US authorities stated that they seized the tanker due to its alleged links to Venezuela. The vessel was reportedly chartered by a private trader and was named Bella 1.

The family of the 26-year-old said they last spoke to him on January 7.

The Russian-flagged...