Two youth from the state are suspected to be among the 22 sailors held captive by Somalian pirates on board a UAE chemical oil tanker MT Royal Grace on March 2.
The duo are Dipin Devis, 22, of Erangattu Parambil at Mapranam and Stalin Vincent, 21, of Mangalath in Thelappilly, near Irinjalakkuda in the district. The parents of the sailors have filed a complaint with the state administration.
“We came to know about this incident from his friends,” said Ms Shaija, mother of Dipin. “My son’s friends told me that the ship was hijacked by pirates. When contacted, the shipping company refused to say anything,” she said.
It was Dipin’s first trip on board the ship. He went to Dubai on January 29, and joined the Oasis cargo and shipping company there with the help of an agent in Kochi. “He used to call us at least once in a week,” says Ms Shaija.
“His last call was on February 28,” Shyja said.
Stalin Vincent made his last call to his parents on February 28.