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Families of freed sailors upset with the government

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Rohtak, Jun 14: Six Indian sailors are to come back home after spending ten months being held hostage by the Somali pirates in Gulf of Aden after a huge ransom was paid for their release by Ansar Burney, Pakistani human rights activist.

The 22 people who were freed by the hijackers included Indians from Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, one each from J&K, Himachal and two Indians, four from Pakistan, eleven from Egypt and one from Sri Lanka.

The families of the four sailors Satnam Singh from Ambala, Prashant Chauhan from Shimla, MK Sharma from J&K and Ravinder Gulia of Rohtak brought up the issue in front of the Prime Minister and had pleaded that the Indian government take some action but all went in vain.

"It's a bond of humanity cutting across boundaries that has saved the lives of our dear ones. I am all thanks to the Pakistan national Burney and even the Pakistan government which helped in the efforts to get the hostages released," said Sampa, Ravinder Gula's wife.

"I have just talked to my husband who informed me that he is likely to reach home in next 9-10 days. He says that all the sailors are in good health and have gotten out of the danger zone in the sea," said Sampa.

Sampa was trying her best in getting the government's help to get her husband released.

"My ten month agony has finally come to an end thanks to Pakistan human rights activist Ansar Burney's efforts. Even the Pakistan government has played a positive role in the process of getting the hostages freed as the governor of Sind state Ishratul Ebad raised funds to pay the ransom amount to the pirates. But the Indian government and politicians let us down," said Sampa.

"I have taken a personal vow to never cast my vote as these politicians have little concern for the miseries and grievances of the common people," she said.

She said she talked to several minister who refused to help her saying that paying ransom was illegal.

"Is securing the human lives illegal? They refused to talk to the pirates to get Indian citizens freed. Had there been the relative of any politician or VIP among the hostages, the Indian government would have come to its knees to ensure his/her release and there have been such instances in the past. But the lives of the common man does not move them," she added.

Pakistan and India was supposed to raise $500,000 and $60,000 respectively, whereas the Egyptian shipping company was supposed to give $1million. Despite of setting a deadline, India failed to full its promise.

The Egyptian cargo ship MV Suez was captured by the Somali pirates in Aug 2010 in the Gulf of Aden.

OneIndia News

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