New Delhi – India announced on Thursday that Anilkumar Raveendran, an Army veteran from Kayamkulam, Kerala, was freed after being held by Houthi militants in Yemen. The 52‑year‑old, originally from Pathiyoor, had been in Houthi custody since July 7, following the sinking of the Liberian‑flagged cargo ship MV Eternity C in the Red Sea.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement saying, “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.” It added that he arrived in Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday and is bound to return to India soon.
The ministry also noted that “Government of India had been coordinating efforts with various parties to ensure his safe release and return,” and thanked the Sultanate of Oman for its role in securing his freedom.
The MV Eternity C was headed toward the Israeli port of Eilat when Houthi forces intensified attacks on international vessels amid the Israel‑Gaza crisis. The rebels boarded the ship, destroyed it, and detained its crew – which included nationals from India, the Philippines, Russia, and Greece. Four crew members lost their lives, while six, including Augustin from Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram, were rescued by the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and repatriated within a week. Eleven crew members, Raveendran among them, remained captive until his release.
Raveendran had joined the shipping company five years ago via the Palakkad‑based Ocean Group Overseas Consultancy. Before turning to maritime work, he served 19 years in the Indian Army.
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