Prabhakaran Nair of Kollam, father of Praveen who is imprisoned in Kenya, on Thursday sought the help of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) to secure the release of his son.
Mr. Nair petitioned SHRC chairman J.B. Koshy at a sitting held at the Collectorate conference hall. Mr. Koshy directed the NoRKA secretary to extend all possible assistance to the family.
Praveen, who had completed a course in marine services from an institute in Delhi, went to Mombasa in Kenya and secured placement on a ship, MSV Amin Daria. It was not yet clear to which country the vessel belonged to.
Plea evokes no response
In July 2014, he was reportedly arrested by the Kenyan Navy along with his colleague Vikas Balwan on the charges of smuggling drugs. The father alleged that his son and the other sailor were arrested without adequate investigation or sufficient evidence. His plea for assistance from the Union government reportedly did not evoke any response. He was told by the Indian Embassy that engaging a lawyer to fight his son’s case would cost a fortune.
