This Article is From Dec 10, 2013

Family of sailor jailed in Togo meets PM, wants him freed for baby's last rites

Family of sailor jailed in Togo meets PM, wants him freed for baby's last rites
New Delhi: A distraught family of Captain Sunil James, including his wife Aditi and brother-n-law Rakesh Madappa, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today with an appeal to bring him back from Togo in West Africa.

Captain James, with two other sailors, has been languishing in a jail in Togo since July this year on charges of aiding the pirates who attacked and looted his ship, MT Ocean Centurion.

Last Monday, Captain James' 11-month-old son, Vivaan died of Septicemia. The baby's body has been kept in a morgue, with the family hoping his father can see him one last time.

The Prime Minister's Office has deputed a senior bureaucrat to coordinate the efforts for Captain James' release. His brother-in-law told NDTV today that they are hoping that "the PM will be able to work out a miracle and get Sunil back."

Indian officials have been pursuing the case in Togo without luck so far. Officials also met the sailor in prison last week.

As the family awaits news of his release, a Togo court started hearing the case on Tuesday.

Aditi, Captain James' wife, is now planning to go to Togo to be with her husband in his difficult times and hopefully, to bring him back.
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