KOZHIKODE: Friends and relatives are hopeful of Jayachandran Mokeri’s release from a Maldives jail soon.

According to information reaching here from the island country, two way-efforts are progressing to secure the release of the teacher who has been languishing in jail since April 5.

Diplomatic efforts are in full swing after the assurance of Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Mokeri’s wife Jyothi that the issue would be taken up with Maldives.

Vadakara MP, Mullapalli Ramachandran had raised the issue in parliament and had got a satisfactory reply. Chief Minister Oomman Chandy’s office is in touch with prominent Keralites in Maldives to secure the release. “We are expecting good news. But there is no official communication on the release,” Jyoti told Deccan Chronicle.

Mokeri’s friend and journalist Moidu Vanimel said that they were expecting happy news before Christmas.

Meanwhile, the demand for Mokeri’s release has strengthened. A people’s gathering was held in Mokeri on Friday followed by a candlelight vigil by localites. Film Director P.T Kunhu

Muhammed inaugurated the gathering. MLAs K.K Lathika, E.K Vijayan, CPM leader P. Mohanan among others participated.

Teachers in and around Kuttiyadi, Nadapuram, Valayam have held programmes urging authorities to hasten the diplomatic process.