New Delhi: The MV Suez, a ship with six Indian sailors on board, is reportedly in trouble again after being released by Somali pirates less than 48 hours ago.
Crew members on the ship have reportedly sent a message saying they can see boats around them that appear to be dangerous. The Suez has 22 people on board, including four Pakistanis. The Indian Navy, however, denies the latest reports.
The Suez, a merchant vessel owned by an Egyptian company, was taken over by Somali pirates last year. They wanted 2.1 million dollars as ransom - which was paid in full, some of it coming via donations in Pakistan.
Ansar Burney, a Pakistani rights activist, played a key role in the negotiations that led to the pirates freeing the hostages late on Monday. However, Mr Burney says he has been messaged now by the crew warning him of the new threat.
Families of the Indian sailors on board say their appeals to the Indian Navy to help escort the ship to safer waters were ignored earlier this week. But a spokesperson for the Navy told NDTV that the Suez was "under constant watch" and that Navy officials are in touch with international forces and agencies to ensure the ship is monitored.
The Somali pirates had threatened the hostages on at least four occasions that they would be killed if the ransom was not paid, the Suez' captain, a Pakistani, told a TV channel in his country in a phone interview on Monday.
Crew members on the ship have reportedly sent a message saying they can see boats around them that appear to be dangerous. The Suez has 22 people on board, including four Pakistanis. The Indian Navy, however, denies the latest reports.
The Suez, a merchant vessel owned by an Egyptian company, was taken over by Somali pirates last year. They wanted 2.1 million dollars as ransom - which was paid in full, some of it coming via donations in Pakistan.
Families of the Indian sailors on board say their appeals to the Indian Navy to help escort the ship to safer waters were ignored earlier this week. But a spokesperson for the Navy told NDTV that the Suez was "under constant watch" and that Navy officials are in touch with international forces and agencies to ensure the ship is monitored.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
India To Prosecute 35 Somali Pirates Responsible For Hijacking Ship Resolved To Reinforce Peace, Stability In Indian Ocean Region: Navy Ships, Drones, Commandos: How Indian Navy Rescued Hijacked Vessel World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report Relationship Timeline Of Hardik Pandya, Wife Who "Parted Ways": 5 Facts NEET PG 2024: Test Cities Out For Postgraduate Medical Entrance Exam After 53 Years, Mortar Shells From 1971 Indo-Pak War Found In Fish Pond "Humanitarian Crisis Due To Israel-Hamas Conflict Concerning": India At UN Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.