Ahmedabad , April 3: One of the eight dhows hijacked by Somali pirates last week has been released and is on its way to India, Kutch Vahanvati Association (KVA) president Kasam Ali Bholim said here on Saturday.
“One of the eight vessels, Krishna Jyot, which is registered in Veraval in Gujarat, has been released by Somali pirates as there was not much fuel in the dhow. The dhow is on its way to India with 15 sailors on board,” Mr Bholim said.
He said the association has not had any communication with the six other dhows hijacked by the pirates. Over 100 Indian sailors on these dhows are still held in captivity by the pirates. “The 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 Somali pirates along with six other boats,” he said.
Mr Bholim said the released vessel is now near Socotra Island for re-fuelling. Seven dhows belonging to KVA members were hijacked by Somali 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 the 11 men from Mandvi working on the Dubai-based vessel Al Barari had been taken hostage by the pirates. KVA approached the port authorities in Gujarat and the Directorate-General of Shipping in this regard and were told that the Navy and other agencies were on the lookout for the missing sailors and vessels.
Gujarat CM Narendra Modi had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him to accord top priority to securing the safe release of the sailors. The KVA has over 140 members engaged in the transport of cargo to various locations in West Asia and Africa.
Age Correspondent