New Delhi:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked his officials to coordinate efforts to free Mumbai sailor Sunil James, who is jailed in Togo in western Africa. This was after his family met Dr Singh and asked him for help to bring him back to India for the last rites of his 11-month-old son.
"We have all our hopes on the prime minister," said Aditi, the wife of Captain James. The family met the Prime Minister at Parliament House in Delhi.
Mr James' family has been fighting for his release since July, when he was arrested on charges of aiding the pirates who had attacked and looted his ship, MT Ocean Centurion, near Togo.
A Togo court started hearing the case on Tuesday.
His 11-month-old son, Vivaan, died last Monday of septicemia. His body has been kept in a hospital morgue, with the family hoping his father can see him one last time.
Indian officials have been pursuing the case in Togo without luck so far. Officials also met the sailor in prison last week.
Captain James' brother-in-law Rakesh Madappa, who took leave from work and spent months in Togo fighting for his release, says the decision is now up to a court there.
The family alleges that Mr James was tortured by the pirates and has lost 15 kgs in the custody of the Togo police, but the government took too long to step in. "Does it take the death of a baby for the government to act?" Mr Madappa questioned last week. Aditi James, he said, had been trying to contact the Ghana mission for months; India has none in Togo.
"Sunil always said the truth will prevail. He is all alone in Togo, with no support, no family, and no friends, crying inconsolably...his baby's death has pushed him over the edge," Mr Madappa says.
The government has assured the family that efforts were on to secure his release and legal options were being worked out with the Togo government.