Jailed sailor Sunil James released in Togo, to conduct last rites of his son

New Delhi: Indian sailor Sunil James, who had been jailed in Togo in July, has been released and is expected to reach India by tomorrow, sources in the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.

India was in touch with Togo authorities to secure on compassionate ground the release of the sailor whose family wanted him to conduct the last rites of his 11-month-old son.

Indian officials from Accra had met the sailor recently and had been pursuing the case of his release with the authorities there. James has been released, the sources said, adding he is expected to return home by Friday.

Later on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: "Sailors Capt Sunil James & Vijayan fly out of #Togo. Head home to #India." (sic)

Another sailor who had been imprisoned along with Captain James, Vijayan, has been released too.

He was under arrest in the west African country since July on the charge of aiding pirates who had attacked and looted his Marshall Islands-flagged MT Ocean Centurion on July 16.

The sailor's 31-year-old wife Aditi and others in the family wanted James to conduct the last rites of his son whose body is lying in a hospital morgue since the toddler's death from septicaemia on December 2.

It was reported that the infant, Vivaan, underwent an operation for intestinal gangrene but doctors could not save him as the infection had spread to his bloodstream. His body has been kept in a hospital morgue's cold storage.

Voicing satisfaction over the release of James, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the charges that he had been accused of cannot be proved.

"We were not satisfied that these charges could be proved or any investigation needed to be conducted," he said. "I am satisfied now that he is being released. I admit that this is the result of diplomatic relationship between India and Togo," Khurshid said.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted on Thursday: "After meet between India's High Commissioner in Accra and President Gnassingbe of Togo, Captain Sunil James and Vijayan released. Now with High Commissioner K Jeeva Sagar."

"We hope that Capt. Sunil James will be reunited with his family latest by tomorrow morning," he said.

The family of Sunil James thanked the Central Government after the captain's release from Togo jail. Sunil's wife Aditi James expressed relief at the news despite the delay that happened in bringing them back.

"It has been a very tough fight. It has finally come to an end. I am satisfied with the efforts that the government has put in," she said.

"After we met prime minister, things have actually fast-tracked for us, PMO put in best efforts to get him out, thankful to them," she added.

Expressing satisfaction over James' release, Aditi recalled the trauma the family went through since her husband's incarceration in July.

"I had to be strong for I had to fight a lot of people. For initial 4-5 days I was not able to come out of the shock but then I realised I have already lost my son and I don't want to lose my husband. I was worried for his condition and state of mind, then the whole family decided we will fight for him so that he returns and sees Vivaan for one last time," she said in Mumbai.

Aditi said James was likely to reach home by Friday. She said she did not know how her husband would take the loss of their infant son.

"I don't know how much time it will take him to accept or absorb this thing (the child's death). I don't know what his mental state would be right now when he actually comes and realises what exactly has happened," she said.

Rakesh Madappa, brother-in-law of James, said the release could have happened much earlier.

"I don't see any reason why it could not have been done much earlier, a lot, lot sooner. We had been fighting this battle since mid-july. Jawed Ashraf, Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, is the man who put this (efforts to secure James' release) into motion and there were very, very quick results," he said.

James had stopped at Togo to report an attack on his ship MT Ocean Centurion by pirates when he was arrested July 31, along with two other crew members, on suspension of aiding the pirates.