Suez Hostage crisis: Time running out for Indian sailors

Time is running out for Six Indian sailors on board MV Suez as the deadline set by the pirates to release them ends on Wednesday.

While the Indian government is yet to come up with a substantial action plan, the clock is ticking away for the Indians held hostage since August 2, 2010.

MV Suez, an Egyption cargo vessel hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, was commanded by Chief Officer Dhiraj Tiwary. Other Indians on board are third officer Ravinder S. Gulia, third engineer N.K. Sharma, cook Prashant chouhan, while seamen Satnam Singh and John Rose Bisco were also on the ship when it was held captive.

The families of the sailors have been pleading with the government to intervene. The families met the leader of the Opposition the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who had slammed the government for its passive approach to the hostage crisis. She also questioned government’s inaction on Tuesday.

Following the uproar in the House, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had to assure the House that the government was taking all possible steps to secure their release.

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