On July 22, four sailors were rescued from a Panama-flagged oil tanker, the captain of the vessel has been arrested.
What happened?
Four sailors were rescued from a Panama-flagged oil tanker ‘Rise Dignity’ and the Captain Pawan Kumar was detained after the rescue and for questioning by immigration officials.
The rescued men were forced to hide in the engine room onboard the vessel as their names were not included on the crew list.
Duped by owners
The rescued sailors were tasked with cleaning the oil tank, painting and moving materials and others. Their names were not included in the list because the shipping company needed to show expenses and other details to the Indian government. When questioned, the master assured them that they will be taken care off.
Captain arrested
After the Captain failed to provide concrete answers, he was arrested and charged with cheating and conspiracy under IPC and under the Foreigners (Amendment Act) 2004. The case was registered based on a complaint given by R Prakash, one of the rescued sailor.
Investigation initiated
Officials from the mercantile marine department boarded the ship and conducted a detailed inspection as part of their investigation.
The four sailors were released after police obtained a statement from them and they have been told to return to the city for further questioning.
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Source: Times of India
