Indian merchant ship captain, Sunil James, who was under arrest in Togo in Western Africa for the last five months, for allegedly aiding pirates, has been released along with another sailor, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday. They are expected to reach Mumbai by Friday.
“Sailors from #India Capt Sunil James & Vijayan released from detention in #Togo. Will leave for home later today,” Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, wrote on Twitter, a social networking site on Thursday morning. Akbaruddin said the two men were released after India’s High Commissioner in Ghana K Jeeva Sagar met Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe.
“After meet between #India’s High Commissioner in Accra and Prez Gnassingbe of #Togo Capt Sunil James & Vijayan released. Now with HC Sagar,” Akbaruddin tweeted.
James had halted in Togo to report an attack on his ship MT Ocean Centurion by pirates when he was arrested on July 31, along with two other crew members, on grounds of allegedly aiding the pirates.
India was in touch with authorities in Togo to secure James’ release on compassionate ground after his 11-month-old son died on December 2.
James’ family thanked the Government after reports of his release came in. “It has been a very tough fight. It has finally come to an end. I am satisfied with the efforts that the Government has put in,” said Aditi, James’
wife. “We are grateful to the Indian Government for helping us bring James, a father back to his waiting son,” said Rakesh Madappa, James’ brother-in-law.
Aditi and other members of his family met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 10 seeking his early release so that he could return home for the last rites of Vivaan. They had also organised a peace march across several States recently.
“Things fast-tracked after meeting the PM. The office put in its best efforts to get him out, I am thankful to them,” she added. Vivaan, James’ son underwent an operation for intestinal gangrene but doctors could not save him as the infection had spread to his bloodstream. His body has been kept in a hospital morgue.
“We have to make him accept that Vivaan is no more. It will be difficult for him to cope with this,” said Madappa.