December 20, 2025 02:09 am (IST)
Follow us:
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)
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.
Latest Headlines
Viral video of foreign tourists exploring New Delhi with a local auto rickshaw driver steals hearts!
Fri, Dec 19 2025
Why India remains unaffected as Trump suspends US Green Card lottery? Find out here
Fri, Dec 19 2025
Goa's popular Curlie's pub sealed days after nightclub fire tragedy
Fri, Dec 19 2025
Income tax officials search Shilpa Shetty’s home in probe linked to Bastian Restaurant
Thu, Dec 18 2025
YouTuber Anurag Dwivedi under ED lens for promoting illegal betting apps, luxury cars seized
Thu, Dec 18 2025