After years of helping Scottish criminal investigations and despite fearing for his life in India, Vishal Sharma’s asylum claim has been rejectedWhen Vishal Sharma, an experienced merchant seaman, arrived in London from India in November 2017, he was looking forward to a good job on a Belgian tanker, the MT Waasmunster, assisting engineers. He had a 15-month contract and a transit visa, enabling him to travel to Milford Haven in Wales, where the 174-metre vessel was anchored.But in a last-minute change of plan, his Mumbai agent told him to head to Southwick in West Sussex, England, to board a scallop trawler, the Noordzee. Continue reading...
Seafarer Sharma, a victim of modern slavery in the UK on TN Trawlers vessels between 2012 and 2020, who aided authorities in criminal investigations, now faces deportation to India despite the Crown Office acknowledging his victim status. No human trafficking or modern slavery cases have come to trial for TN Trawlers. Sharma's asylum claims were rejected, prompting concern from NGOs who emphasize the need to support victims in trafficking prosecutions.
