New Delhi, 04th June 2023: Nine Indian merchant vessel seamen who had been kept captive for several months by a local militia in Libya have been released, according to persons familiar with the situation.
The gang contacted the Indian embassy in Tunisia on February 15 and informed them that the Merchant Vessel MT Maya 1, on which they were working, had broken down along the coast of Libya and that they had been kidnapped by a local militia.
The team quickly raised the issue with Libyan authorities, requesting consular access and securing the group’s safety and prompt repatriation to India.
The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy continued to monitor the situation with Libyan authorities and kept family members of Indian nationals informed of developments in the case on a regular basis.
The Indian nationals arrived in Tripoli, Libya, and were greeted by the Indian Ambassador to Tunisia. Five of the nine Indian crew members are from Uttar Pradesh, with one from each of Rajasthan, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat.
