New Delhi:
The ordeal of Indian sailors onboard Egyptian ship, MV Suez which was captured by Somali pirates on August 2 last year, could soon come to an end.
Family sources have told NDTV that the ransom amount has been negotiated and is expected to be paid tonight. However, the amount has not been confirmed yet.
The ship's crew includes six Indians, four Pakistanis, four Sri Lankans and 11 Egyptians. The negotiations are being aided by well-known Pakistan-based human rights campaigner Ansar Burney.
Burney had helped secure release of Indian prisoners in Pakistan jail such as Gopal Das who was languishing in Pakistan jail for 27 years.
Earlier, 11 Indian captured by the pirates along with their ship, RAK Africana, were released in March this year. Reports said they were released a result of ransom paid finally by the ship's owners to the pirates.
The vessel, MV Suez, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. The issue had generated much political heat and was voiced in the Lok Sabha by Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj.
Though the government had given an assurance that it is doing everything possible for their release, the BJP had staged a walkout.