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Medstar stowaways leave for their countries

The fortnight-long crisis involving 14 stowaways on-board Italian freighter M V Medstar has ended following successful negotiations and the stowaways of Iranian and Iraqi origin, who had demanded political asylum in Europe, have left for their respective countries.

Following the successful intervention of the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the Protection and Indemnity Club, the 14 stowaways, of whom nine were Iranians and five Iraqis, have left for their respective country.

However, how they would be dealt with in their countries is not yet known, though sources indicated that the law of the land was likely to be applied.

While the nine stowaways of Iranian origin left by an Iran-Air flight last afternoon from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport for Teheran, the five Iraqi stowaways left for the Korfakan port in Bandar-e-Abbas in Iran late last night by the M V Medstar along with the 20-member crew and some security personnel.

From Korfakan they would be deported to Baghdad, where they were likely to be handed over to the Iraqi authorities.

The stowaways had resorted to hunger-strike while the ship was docked at Bombay and had even inflicted wounds on themselves. This was, however, neither confirmed nor denied by the authorities.

The UNHRC and the PI Club, sources said, were opposed to the idea of political asylum as it would lead to increase in such cases.

However, the joint-interrogation team which comprised of officials from the Research and Analysis Wing, Intelligence Bureau, Customs, Immigration, Indian Navy and the Coast Guard said there were no weapons or ammunitions on the ship.

EARLIER REPORTS
Stowaways to go back
Coast Guard begins searching hijacked ship
Stowaways asked to leave Bombay

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