Ali Bholim, president of Kutch Vahanvati Association Kasam, said the association has not communicated with six other dhows hijacked by the pirates.
One of the eight dhows hijacked by Somalian pirates last week has been released and is on its way to India, president of Kutch Vahanvati Association (KVA) Kasam Ali Bholim said in Ahmedabad today.
"One of the eight vessels 'Krishna Jyot', which is registered in Veraval in Gujarat, has been released by Somalian pirates as there was not much fuel in the dhow. The dhow is on its way to India with 15 sailors on board," Bholim told PTI.
He said the association have not had any communication with six other dhows hijacked by the pirates. Over 100 Indian sailors on these dhows are still in captivity of the pirates.
"Sailors of the boat informed the association when they came to Socotra island off the coast of Somalia after they were released. This boat was hijacked on March 28 by the Somalian pirates along with six others," he said.
Bholim said the released vessel is now near Socotra Island near Somalia for re-fuelling.
Seven dhows belonging to KVA members were hijacked by Somalian pirates on March 28. One more cargo vessel with 11 men belonging to Mandvi taluka in Kutch district, was hijacked a day later.
KVA received information that 11 men from Mandvi who were working on Dubai-based vessel Al-Barari were taken hostage by the Somalian pirates.
KVA approached the port authorities in Gujarat and the director general Shipping in this regard and were told that the Navy and other agencies were on the look out for the missing sailors and vessels.
Raising concerns on highjacking, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had written a letter to the prime minister Manmohan Singh, requesting him to accord top priority for safe release of the sailors.
KVA has over 140 members engaged in transport of cargo from Dubai port to various location in Middle-east and Africa.
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