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5 Indian sailors return after a year in Greek jail

MUMBAI:Five Indians, who spent over 14 months in a Greek jail after their cargo ship was detained on charges of carrying explosive material, arrived in Mumbai this morning.

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Mumbai, March 24

Five Indians, who spent over 14 months in a Greek jail after their cargo ship was detained on charges of carrying explosive material, arrived in Mumbai this morning. MV Andromeda was detained by the Greek Coast Guard on January 9, 2018.

Although it was established that the cargo in question was only a raw material for firecrackers, the crew of the ship had to languish in jail for over a year. The ship had set sail from Turkey on January 6, 2018, and was headed for Djibouti when it was diverted to the Greek coast for repairs and later, detained by the coast guard.

“The explosive material was legal. Local authorities did not go through the documents that the Greek ship owner had,” Bhupendra Singh, one of the Indian crew members told the media here. “We were given consular access and they (the Indian embassy staff) were very supportive and remained present at every hearing,” said Singh, a native of Gurdaspur in Punjab, adding that they were not subjected to physical torture in any form.

Singh, however, said he had to undergo mental agony “especially when beef was served frequently.” “There were moments when I thought of ending life. I was the only son of my father... I could not be present in my sister’s wedding,” he added. Another crew member, Gagandeep from Bengaluru, said the jail authorities informed them that they were the first Indians to be lodged in the jail since it was built in 1953.

Pakistani inmates provided them the support, he said. “Whatever grudge we may hold against each other’s country, but when we (Indians and Pakistanis) meet each other in other countries,  we understand each other very well ... those two Pakistanis helped us a lot,”  Bhupendra Singh said.  — PTI

Were detained for carrying explosives

  • They were detained on board MV Andromeda by the Greek Coast Guard on January 9, 2018, for allegedly carrying explosive material
  • The Maritime Union of India said a court ruled a fortnight ago that the explosive material on board the ship was raw material for crackers
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