MEA intervenes for repatriation of Indian seafarers in Iran jail

By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two days after the information concerning the plight of 4 Indian seafarers languishing in an Iranian jail got here out, the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has requested the Indian Embassy in Iran to help the crew members and make obligatory preparations for his or her early repatriation.Meanwhile, the Kerala authorities has additionally intervened within the matter and directed Norka to look into the difficulty and take rapid measures.

Four Indian seafarers, together with Keralite Deepak Ravi, who have been on board oil tanker MT Manaman 8 proceed to stay in Bushehr jail in Iran after the Iranian Coast Guard detained the vessel for allegedly transporting unauthorised oil in March. Though they have been launched from jail on July 29, they’d to return to the jail inside hours as there was nobody to formally obtain and repatriate them to India.

The Sailors Society, which has been offering help to the households of the sailors, has introduced the difficulty to the MEA’s consideration. In response to a communication, the Deputy Secretary (Iran) knowledgeable the Society that the matter has already been taken up.  

The Society additionally approached the Kerala authorities in search of its intervention to expedite the discharge of seafarers. “The Chief Minister’s Office has directed Norka to intervene in the matter. We will look into the issue and take it up with the authorities concerned,” mentioned Norka vice-chairman Ok Varadarajan. Meanwhile, following the TNIE report on the plight of the seafarers, New Delhi-based NGO Indian World Forum has taken up the difficulty with the Prime Minister’s Office. Puneet Singh of Indian World Forum instructed TNIE that the NGO has approached the PMO in search of pressing intervention within the matter.