After being held hostage for over four years, seven Indian seafarers have been free by Somali pirates.
There were 15 crew members on board Merchant Tanker Asphalt Venture when it was taken over by Somali pirates back on September 28, 2010, of which eight were freed in April 2011. However, the remaining seven were still held hostage.
“All the seven Indian crew of Asphalt Venture have been released by Somali pirates on October 30 with our efforts and its various partners. The crew have called their families back home and area excited to meet them,” said Chirag Bahri, Regional Director of Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP).
The release is after lengthy negotiations and payment of a ‘modest’ amount to cover the logistical and transport costs of the group holding the Indian men. The seven sailors will return to India in the next few days and are presently safe in Kenya.
Currently, there are still 30 sailors from various foreign flagged ships and fishermen held hostage by Somali pirates who have been there for over four years now.
The incidents of piracy have come down tremendously in the Gulf of Aden as compared to the years between 2008 – 2012.
The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy, jointly had arrested Somali pirates back in 2011 sailing in the Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep Islands. In four separate cases, a total of 120 pirates were arrested.
Timeline:
Date: January 28, 2011
Mother Pirate Vessel: Prantalay 14
Somali Pirates: 15
Hostages: 20 Thai & Myanmarese nationals
Date: February 6, 2011
Mother Pirate Vessel: Prantalay 11
Somali Pirates: 28
Hostages: 24 Thai nationals
Date: March 12, 2011
Mother Pirate Vessel: Vega 5
Somali Pirates: 61
Hostages: 13 (12 Mozambique & 1 Indonesian)
Date: March 26, 2011
Mother Pirate Vessel: Morteza
Somali Pirates: 16
Hostages: 16 (12 Iranians & 4 Pakistanis)
ateeq.shaikh@dnaindia.net
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