Sunil James' family thanks government for support

The family of Sunil James on Thursday thanked the Central Government after the Indian merchant ship 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

Sunil James, who was in jail in Togo, western Africa, for the last five months was, released today, the ministry of external affairs said

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

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: "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

James' family had been seeking his release so that he could return home for the last rites of his 11-month-old son Vivaan who died on December 2 after developing gangrene in his intestine while undergoing treatment at Andheri''s Holy Spirit Hospital in Mumbai. His body has been kept in the hospital morgue's cold storage

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.