There were tears of joy as well as relief as the six sailors who spent six months in the captivity of Somali pirates flew home on Friday morning. Landing at the capital’s IGI airport after flying in from Dubai, the sailors had tales of horror to narrate of their 10-month ordeal during which they were beaten and starved by their captors.
At the airport, not only were there emotional reunions with their families but also mobbing by eager journalists.
The sailors arrived on an Emirates Airways flight from Dubai at 9.30 on Friday morning.
Relatives broke down in tears at the sight of the rescued sailors as their children carried placards that read “Thank you Ansar Burney uncle, we love you”, a reference to the Pakistani human rights activist who facilitated their release from the pirates.
Ravinder Singh Bhulia, one of the released crew members who hail from Rohtak said, “Indian and Pakistani media helped us a lot. As far as the Indian government’s role in the release, I don’t want to comment on it” adding that the experience of being rescued is like a rebirth.
“In the span of 10 months we lost all our faith of being rescued. We didn’t know what is going on in the negotiations with our government. The pirates provided us the mobile phones only when they want to demand ransom. It was a horrible experience. Every night we sleep thinking that this might be our last night,” Ravinder said. Ravinder’s wife, Sampa, wept.
“Finally after 10 months of sleepless nights I will take a deep breath. I and my family and friends left no stone unturned to bring them back. I ran from pillar to post, protested with my three year old son on Jantar Mantar for this moment only. But the pain will never be forgotten,” said Sampa.
Another crewmember of MV Suez Prashant Chauhan left for his native place Shimla shortly after arriving in Delhi.
“I am happy to see my family again. This is the happiest moment of my life. This was my first trip as a Sailor and it became a nightmare,” said Prashant adding that his father fought a long battle to bring him back and he won.
However his father Amar Singh Chauhan said that he is thankful to the Ansar Burney, the Pakistani Human right activist rather than any Navy or government.
“Mr Burney has did a job which is out of words. I am really thankful to him because he fought for my son and many more who didn’t even belongs to him or his family.
The way the Government treated us is very unsatisfying,” said Amar Singh Chauhan, father of Prashant, adding that no government official or representative was on the Airport to receive the Sailors.
Another rescued crewmember NK Sharma also praised the way the Pakistan government treated with them.
“Whatever Pakistan government has done is really praiseworthy. We don’t know what Indian government did or did not but Pakistan government has treated us well,” said NK Sharma. Holding her six-year-old daughter tightly he remembered the days of captivity he said that life was miserable in the hands of pirates.
“I have lost a lot of weight and I was worried about malnutrition or even worst starvation. The pirates gave us only water for many days. We get a meal of rice and potato only once a week,” Sharma added.