Kolkata boy detained in Malaysia to return home in 10 days

KOLKATA: With the Malaysian government granting mercy to Utpal Das, the the 20-year-old who got lost from a merchant navy ship a month back, is likely to come back home soon.

Das

had been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by a court in Malayasia for flouting Visa norms.

On Saturday, Das’ brother-in-law

Ramesh Manna

said the

Indian High Commission

in Malayasia had informed him over the phone that Das would be released within 10 days of the decision being taken.

“He called us on Friday while in custody, saying that he was told to inform us to buy his tickets,”

Manna

said.

The Kolkata youth, who was lost from a merchant navy ship a month back in Malayasia, was found at a detention camp in the country after the ministry of external affairs intervened.

It was found that he had got off the ship and got started some other work on the mainland. Though he had the necessary papers, Das did not have permission to work on the mainland.

“There are several such cases where those working in the merchant navy are not aware of what they are permitted to do. We were told that 19 more Indian youths who were arrested on similar charges were also granted mercy,” said

Rajeev Sarkar

, founder of India’s Smile, the NGO which helped the family with the legal affairs.


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