Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi: “I request that all possible efforts to ensure the safety of the crew be made and the relevant details of persons may be shared with the state government so that their family members can be contacted and we can be of help in their hour of crisis,” said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
On Friday, the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero was seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Strait of Hormuz, and 18 Indian nationals are among the 23 crew members. According to a media report, Iran had seized the tanker allegedly due to a collision with an Iranian fishing boat.
Following this, the Kerala CM urged the Centre to take all possible efforts to secure the release of the Indian nationals, including four Keralites, on board the tanker.
A media report said Congress MP Hibi Eden of Ernakulam constituency visited one of the crew member Dijo Pappachan’s family. The MP revealed that there was no official information on reports that two more people from Ernakulam district were among the crew.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan announced diplomatic efforts were on to secure the men’s release.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the government was ascertaining further details on the incident and were on a mission to get in touch with the Government of Iran to secure their early release.