KANPUR: The family of Merchant Navy chief officer Sagar Gupta, who was killed in a drone attack on a commercial vessel in the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, on Wednesday refused to perform his last rites after his mortal remains reached Kanpur.Eighteen days after his death, the family demanded that the government confer martyr status on him, provide Rs 2 crore as compensation and offer a government job to his widow.The 37-year-old seafarer’s body was brought to his native home in Shastri Nagar, where emotional scenes unfolded as family members paid their respects.However, the family said the cremation would not take place until their demands were addressed.According to a local official, the body has been kept in a deep freezer while the family awaits a response from the government.Heart-rending scenes unfolded at the residence as Sagar’s wife Shalu, mother Ramadevi and other relatives broke down on seeing the coffin.His elder brother, Manish Gupta, draped the coffin with the Tricolour and said the family had sought official honours from the government but had received no assurance.“The family has sought official honours from the government but has received no assurance,” he said.Speaking to reporters, Sagar’s niece Puja Gupta questioned why it took nearly 18 days for his body to be brought back to India and demanded that he be accorded martyr status.“My uncle died while serving between two countries. He deserves martyr status,” she said.Puja also demanded a government job for Sagar’s widow, saying she would have to raise the couple’s two young children — a five-year-old daughter and an eight-month-old son.The family has also sought Rs 2 crore as compensation.Expressing disappointment over the government’s response, Puja said assurances alone were not enough and reiterated that the family would not allow the cremation until their demands were met.“Anyone who wants to come can come, but the body will not be taken for the last rites. If martyr status is not granted, we will all die here by pouring kerosene on ourselves,” she added.Sagar Gupta was killed on July 18 after the commercial vessel MV Omorfi came under a drone attack in the Black Sea.Family members said he displayed “exceptional courage” by first helping eight crew members reach safety before being struck in a subsequent drone attack.Sagar had last spoken to his wife on July 17. Four days later, on July 21, one of his colleagues allegedly informed them over the phone that the vessel had come under a drone attack in the Black Sea and Sagar had been killed.Kanpur Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal said the district administration and police had jointly written to the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs, following which the Centre facilitated the repatriation of Sagar’s body.“The body has been handed over to the family. They have not yet performed the last rites due to certain demands. We are looking into the matter,” the commissioner said, declining to comment further.Several public representatives and senior officials, including Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi, MLAs Surendra Maithani and Amitabh Bajpai, District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh and Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Vipin Tada, visited the family to offer their condolences.Sagar is survived by his wife, five-year-old daughter Gauri, seven-month-old son Krishna, his mother, elder brother and other family members.(With PTI inputs)