The Alappuzha police on Thursday took custody of Prasobh Sugathan, the 24-year-old second officer of the Singapore-flagged merchant vessel m.v. Prabhu Daya which rammed the fishing boat Don-1 off the coast of Alappuzha on March 1, killing five fishermen on board.
He had gone missing at sea on March 3, two days after the accident. Sri Lankan fishermen rescued him and handed him over to their Navy. The sailor had endured nearly 10 hours at sea and was treated for his injuries at a Sri Lankan Navy hospital in Trincomalee.
An apparently composed Prasobh arrived at the international airport here from Colombo at 8.30 a.m. Circle Inspector, Ambalappuzha, escorted him to a police vehicle that took him to Alappuzha. Two of Prasobh's schoolmates were at the airport to extend him moral support.
Prasobh's father, Sugathan, had alleged that henchmen of the shipping company had thrown his son overboard to erase evidence of the accident. He said the attempt to murder Prasobh had occurred when the second officer was returning to cabin at 4 a.m. after a four-hour night watch duty.
Mr. Sugathan accused the company of planting news reports that his son had attempted to commit suicide to absolve himself of his alleged role in the shipping accident.
The State police have taken custody of the ship, which was currently anchored at the Chennai port.
