Ship hijack: Rahul assures safety of Indian sailors

HOPE FLOATS: Families of the crew members onboard finally have a glimmer of hope.

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New Delhi: Fifteen days after chemical tanker Stolt Valor was hijacked, the families of the 18 Indian crew members onboard finally have a glimmer of hope.

Seema Goel, wife of the ship’s captain PK Goel, met with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and was has assured that the Government will do its best to secure the safe release of the crew members.

“He was aware of the matter so that was very satisfying. He (Rahul) said that the Government will do whatever best it can to save the members,” Seema said.

Patna-based mariner Santosh Kumar is also in the same ship. Like the other sailors onboard, he had been in touch with his family through a satellite phone. But for the past four days there has been no word and his wife is now getting worried.

“The Government needs to do something for these sailors. Instead of sailors had there been actors or cricketers then the Government would have gone all out to save them. The sailors are common men and that’s why nothing is being done,” Santosh’s wife complained.

However, the shipping company is urging the families to be patient.

DGM of Ebony Shipping Company Capt Anshul Rajvanshi said, “Japanese owners are directly in touch with the ship. So they are communicating with the hijackers. I would only request the families that they should have faith in the company and eventually everything will be sorted out.

Family members of Stolt Valor's crew now plan to hold a rally in Delhi on Saturday to push for the early release of the sailors.

(With inputs from Prabhakar Kumar)