Bhubaneswar: With the persistent efforts of the Indian Embassy and MPs of Kendrapara and Kandhamal, seven sailors, including Dibya Ranjan Behera of Kandhamal district, who were stranded in United Arab Emirates (UAE) for last four months, finally returned home today.
The family of Dibya Ranjan expressed its gratitude to the Odisha Government as well as the MPs for initiating timely action for the rescue of their son who was trapped in Dubai.
Soon after landing at the Bhubaneswar Airport, Dibya said, “I am feeling happy that after four months of struggle I am coming back to India and my state Odisha. I really thank the Government of Odisha, MP Pratyusha Singh, Ex-MLA Devendra Kuanr, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. I would like to thank Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda that he had written a letter personally for me.”
His mother’s happiness knew no bounds and she said, “We were so desperate and kept knocking everyone's doors to bring him back. We are very happy now.”
As per sources, Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda had earlier written to Indian Embassy in connection with the incident while in her letter to Odisha Chief Minister and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh had requested for special measures towards the release of the Odia officer and others who were detained on foreign shores.
Reportedly, Dibya Ranjan Behera of Urumunda in Khajuripada, along with 19 other Indian crew members on board ‘SHAKER 2’ ship were detained by United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities, a report of which was telecast by OTV on March 11.
The crew had departed on-board MV SHAKER (Wadi AL Neel forwarding and Shipping Co. L.L.C) from Mumbai Port in October and reached Dubai Port in January this year.
However, all their passports were confiscated due to which they were not able to return home. Their vessel was also seized and they were detained over a tussle between companies over pending and port servicing charges, sources said.