22 Indian crew return safe after ransom paid to Somali pirates

“Indian crew members returned after they were freed by the pirates on payment of a ransom by the vessel operator,” National Union of Seafarers of India’s General Secretary,Abdulgani Y Serang,said.

Recounting the three month ordeal,one of the seafarers who returned along with his colleagues,said it was a nightmarish experience for them even though their captors did not harm anyone.

“They did not harm anyone of us. But it was worse than hell. We were all besieged by gun-toting pirates all the time.

They just wanted the ransom,” Amit Wahie,Second Officer of the vessel,said.

Wahie said that the crew was thankful to the company for its efforts in securing their release.