March 05, 2026 03:04 am (IST)

Make this your homepage

News

Defiant silence: Iran women’s team refuses anthem days after Khamenei’s death | 'You’ll find out soon': Trump hints at massive retaliation after Riyadh attack, says ‘boots on ground’ may not be needed | Iran claims Netanyahu's office targeted in 'surprise missile attacks' | India, Canada to host renewable energy summit as Modi, Carney push to deepen bilateral ties | Gold, silver surge as Middle East conflict sparks safe-haven buying | Middle East tension: Several US warplanes crash in Kuwait, says Defence Ministry | Indian defence shares jump as West Asia conflict triggers investor rush | Modi-Carney talks signal fresh start as India, Canada push to revive trade pact and strategic partnership | IDF strikes Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after projectile fire toward Northern Israel; 31 killed | Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital amid Middle East conflict

CPI-M MP urges centre to move to free Indian sailors jailed in Nigeria

India Blooms News Service | | Aug 15, 2015, at 06:34 am

#Indian sailors # Nigeria jail # Indians in Nigeria # External Affairs Minister # Ritabrata Banerjee

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)

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.

India
International

Related Images

Mamata Banerjee joins grand Holi celebration in Kolkata — Watch the festive moments Mar 03, 2026, at 05:05 pm

In Images: Modi, Carney meet in New Delhi to reset India-Canada ties Mar 02, 2026, at 02:01 pm

In Images: Leftist SUCI protests in Kolkata against US-Israel led strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Mar 01, 2026, at 08:35 pm