New Delhi: Sixteen Indian sailors, part of a 26-member crew of MT Heroic Idun are currently in detention in Equatorial Guinea and the Indian mission there said on Monday that it is closely working with the authorities for their early release.
On Sunday, Rajyasabha MP A. A Rahim has urged the External Affairs Minister to urgently intervene in the matter of the illegal detention of 16 Indian crew members of MT Heroic Idun in Equitorial Guinea and to ensure their safe return to India. The Indian mission in Equatorial Guinea on Monday said it is closely working with authorities of Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria for the early release of crew members.
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"This Embassy and our High Commission in Abuja are closely working with authorities of Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria for the early release of crew members of MV Heroic Idun", the embassy said. The Indian embassy said that all crew members are safe and those in the detention centre have been shifted to the ship.
"Since their detention in mid-August, this Mission has been in regular contact with the crew members over the phone. We have also had several consular access/visits to them. We are closely monitoring developments and are actively engaged for an early resolution of the issue", read the statement issued by the Indian embassy in Equatorial Guinea.
According to a statement released by the detained sailors, the Norwegian-flagged MT Heroic Idun was arrested by an Equatorial Guinea naval ship in international waters on August 12 2022.
