New Delhi:
With uncertainty looming large over the fate of the seven Indian sailors held hostage by Somali pirates, the government has, for the first time, spoken about efforts to rescue the captives.
Speaking to NDTV, Union Shipping Minister GK Vasan said that the government was doing its best to secure the release of the seven hostages. The minister, though, said that efforts were on in a "discreet" way.
"The Government of India is taking enough measures for the release of sailors. Very safely, I can give an account of about 157 sailors who have been taken back safely. Another 46 are left. We continue to do our efforts in a concrete but discreet way", Mr Vasan said.
Meanwhile, concerned families of the sailors seem to be willing to support direct offensive action against the pirates to rescue them.
"If they (government) think it's appropriate, I don't have any objection. I don't want my husband to die like this because every day they are starving and are suffering", Sampa Arya, wife of one of the hostages said.
The seven captive sailors are part of the 15-member Indian crew of the merchant ship Panama flag vessel "Asphalt Venture" that was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 28, 2010. After over six-month-long negotiations with the pirates, the company paid the ransom amount for the release of the crew.
However, on April 15, they released only eight crew members including the captain of the vessel and seven ratings and have held seven others (1 rating and 6 officers) captive.
The pirates, reportedly, prolonged the hostage ordeal in retaliation for the arrests of more than 100 Somali pirates by the Indian Navy.
"We decided to keep the Indians because India is holding our colleagues," the pirate, Hassan Farah, was quoted as saying.
(With PTI inputs)