Belthangady, Sep 16, 2016: Though the army has officially completed its search operation for the passengers including Subedar Ekanath Shetty (51) from Belthangady who were on board the ill-fated Indian Airforce AN 32 plane which went missing over the Bay of Bengal on way to Port Blair from the Tambaram air base in Chennai on June 21, there is no official confirmation or intimation in this regard to Shetty’s family so far.
But an enquiry letter from the army court stated that thee has no clue regarding those missing in the incident which took place on June 21 and that the search has been temporarily suspended. It also stated that the operation would continue in case any clue was available in the future. It has come to the conclusion that such an incident has taken place for the first time in the world and that the court of enquiry at the Army Court in Delhi has been completed.
After the final report of the Army Court is sent to the Chennai Police Commissioner, the official announcement in this regard is likely to be made by the Defence Minister and Prime Minister on September 21. Later, his family is likely to get compensation.
Ekanath Shetty was serving the Defence of Corps. His wife Jayanthi is a teacher in SDM High School, Ujire while his daughter Ashitha is in final year degree and son Akshay in tenth standard.
Meanwhile, there is information that army officials are likely to visit Ekanath’s residence this Sunday.