THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, November 8, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asked for his urgent assistance in securing the release of 16 Indian seafarers who are being held by Equatorial Guinea on board a Norwegian oil vessel.

A naval ship from Guinea seized and held the Norwegian ship "Heroic Idun," which had arrived at the AKPO Terminal in Nigeria on August 8 to fill with crude oil. The Norwegian oil vessel's 26-person crew includes the 16 Indians.

Even though the ship did not engage in any illegal conduct, Vijayan stated in the letter that the shipping company was prepared to pay the penalty to help with the seafarers' early release.

The chief minister asked Modi to see that swift action was taken to free the Indian seamen and that diplomatic missions were alerted.

The Kerala-based Congress legislators have also contacted the Centre to demand that action be made to ensure the immediate release of all Indians.

They were held on suspicion of crude oil piracy, the sailors who have spoken to their families claim.

The Kerala-based Congress legislators have also contacted the Centre to demand that action be made to ensure the immediate release of all Indians.

They were held on suspicion of crude oil piracy, the sailors who have spoken to their families claim.

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