Indian sailor Captain Sunil James released from Togo jail

Sunil James, a Merchant Navy Captain 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.