15 Indian ship crew members detained by Guinean navy; food provided by Indian embassy

NEW DELHI: It is reported that 15 Indians who were detained by the Guinean Navy from the cargo ship have been imprisoned. Vijith V Nair, a Malayali who is also on the ship, informed that the people who were taken from the ship were locked in a room and the army was guarding from outside. 16 Indians including three Malayalis and 10 foreigners are in custody.

The first information received was that they were shifted to a hotel. Sanu Jose, the arrested chief officer who is a Malayali, was returned back to the ship. As per reports, 15 people have been locked up after this. The Indian Embassy has provided food to the ship's crew. Necessary food and drinking water were also delivered to them.

Kollam native Vijith V Nair and Milton, a native of Kochi, are among the others who are in custody of the Guinean forces. It was said the other day that the employees would be transferred to Nigeria, but that did not happen. Chief officer Sanu Jose, informed that he was released back to the after the intervention of the central government. 15 sailors were taken from the ship in pretext of taking them to the hotel. Efforts are ongoing at the international level for the release.

Meanwhile, the crew handed over their passports to the Guinean Navy following instructions from the military. It is also alleged that they are not getting food and medicine. The Indian Mission in Africa said that the procedures for their release is ongoing. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sent a letter to the Prime Minister requesting intervention for the release of the ship crew.