March 24, 2025 05:57 am (IST)
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CPI-M MP urges centre to move to free Indian sailors jailed in Nigeria
New Delhi/Kolkata, Aug 14 (IBNS): The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Rajya Sabha member, Ritabrata Banerjee, has urged the centre to ensure the return of 11 Indian sailors who are held captive in Nigerian jail since July last year.
Demanding a positive step to free the sailors, he sent a letter to External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday (Aug 11).
According to reports, 11 Indian sailors- Jogesh Chandra Das, Pradeep Kumar Sharma, S. Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Ankit Rana, Praveen Kumar, Purn Chandra Yadav, Manoj Kumar, Neeraj Kumar, Joyful Rogmai and Mohammad Tabab- were in cargo vessel MT Maro which was forced to anchor in the Port of Brass in Nigeria for technical problems.
On July 24, the ship and the sailors were arrested by the Nigerian Navy and then handed over to the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria.
The EFCC allegedly slapped fake charges on them as the sailors were unable to pay money which the EFCC wanted (close to Rs 200 Cr) . The sailors were allegedly tortured physically and mentally in Nigerian jail.
However, the External Affairs ministry is yet to reply to the letter of Ritabrata Banerjee yet.
"I hope Indian government will look into this matter and take a positive action soon to bring back the sailors safely," Ritabrata Banerjee told IBNS.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
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