Three Indians held hostage by pirates released

Three Indians held hostage in early January by Somalian pirates who hijacked the ship in which the trio were working off Kenyan coast have been released, according to the family of one of the hostages.

Three Indians held hostage in early January by Somalian pirates who hijacked the ship in which the trio were working off Kenyan coast have been released, according to the family of one of the hostages.

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Those who had been in captivity included one Keralite, Sebastian Antony, and two persons from Tamil Nadu, Thresia Fernando and Saravanan.

“We have information from the shipping company where Sebastian was working that he and other two Indians were released this afternoon,” Bobby, brother of Sebastian, told PTI from Changanassery in Kottayam. Bobby, however, said he did not have the details on how the release was secured.

The three were working in the vessel M V Alpha Manyara. The pirates who hijacked the ship had been demanding a huge sum as ransom for their release.

Sebastian has been working as production manager with Alpha Group in Kenya for the last nine years. His wife Tessy and two daughters are now home at Changanassery in Kerala.

“Our prayers have been heard by God. We expect our dear one to be back home soon,” Bobby said.