Hostages rescued from Somali pirates say they were threatened, tortured
March 16th, 2011 - 4:40 pm ICT by ANIMumbai, Mar 16 (ANI): The hostages, who were rescued from the Somali pirates, speaking of their captivity on Wednesday said the pirates tortured the officers and threatened everyone with guns.
“The officers were tortured by the pirates. We were just as cadets there and when they used to feel that we are trying to do something, which is not right as per their rules, then they used to torture us,” said Abhinav Kotwal, a rescued cadet.
The rescued hostages added that no proper medical facilities were provided, and the food was intolerable.
“We are all very pleased to have been released by the pirates on March 8 after being held by them on the coast of Somalia since April 11, 2010, for 332 days,” said Kuvar Singh, who was taken hostage with the vessel RAK Afrikana last year.
Meanwhile, the family members of the released hostages thanked the government, and demanded immediate release of other officials held in captivity.
“I would like to say that the government should make such rules that the other hostages and members of the Indian crew should be rescued in the span of three or four months,” said a family member.
In a case of mistaken identity that cost them dear, Somali pirates attacked an Indian Navy warship in the Arabian Sea on Saturday night, believing it to be a merchant ship, before being surprised by marine commandos who fired back and captured the mother vessel with 61 pirates on board.
In the biggest ever haul in anti-piracy operations, the INS Kalpeni - a water jet fast-attack craft - led a midnight operation to nab a Mozambique flagged vessel that was being used by pirates and rescued its crew of 13 sailors, besides arresting the 61 heavily armed pirates on board.
The Vega 5 was hijacked by Somali pirates on December 28, 2010, and was being used as a mother vessel from which they attacked and captured other ships.
About 90 small arms and other heavier weapons were also recovered, including rocket-propelled grenades.
Somali pirates have hijacked a total of 174 merchant vessels from January 14, 2008, till March 11, 2011. According to the Piracy Reporting Center of the International Maritime Bureau, a total of 217 vessels were attacked last year, resulting in 47 hijackings. (ANI)
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- Pirate ship sunk by navy, Coast Guard in Arabian Sea (Lead) - Jan 29, 2011
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- Without UN effort, piracy elimination difficult: India - Jun 27, 2011
- Somali pirates operating close to Indian shores a disturbing trend: Navy Chief - Jan 31, 2011
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Tags: afrikana, arabian sea, attack craft, captivity, case of mistaken identity, commandos, family member, flagged vessel, four months, hostages, indian crew, indian navy, kuvar, medical facilities, merchant ship, navy warship, rak, sailors, somali pirates, water jet