Kollam (Kerala): A Kerala family is eagerly waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kenya, hoping that it will help secure the release of 25-year-old P Praveen, who is languishing in a jail there for the past two years.
P Prabhul told IANS that the case dates back to July 2014 when his brother Praveen who was working on a merchant ship, was taken into custody along with 10 other crew members on charges of drug smuggling in Kenya.
“It is a false case. My brother joined duty on an Iranian ship in 2013. In July 2014 the ship was supposed to sail to Sharjah, but it reached Kenya and soon after their arrival, they were arrested. At times he calls us and says things are very tough. There are seven Pakistanis, two Indians and one Iranian, all in jail,” said Prabhul.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had taken up this case with the Centre, and with Modi travelling to Kenya on July 11 as part of his five-day tour of Africa, the family of Praveen is hoping that the visit will bring good news for them.
“We raised this issue with Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and with Prime Minister Modi. We expect that Prime Minister’s visit to Kenya can be a turning point for the release of Praveen,” said an official attached to Chandy’s office.
