Somali pirates release ship; hold back Indian crew

India Blooms News Service

Mumbai, Apr 16 (IBNS) Somali pirates have released a Panama-flagged ship after months of captivity though they refused to let free seven out of the 15-member Indian crew.

The pirates had freed MT Asphalt Venture on Friday after it was hijacked 100 nautical miles southeast of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania in September last year.

Owners of the ship-Mumbai-based OMCI Ship Management-on Saturday told seven Indians are still being kept as hostages by the pirates.

"Despite concluding a dialogue with the pirates for the full release of 15 crew and vessel and payment of the ransom, the vessel has been released but the Master has reported that 6 officers and 1 rating were taken off the tanker and were made to accompany the pirates," said OMCI Ship Management in a statement.

According to reports, one of the pirates Hassan Farah said the Indian members are still being held captive by them who want to bargain for the release of co-pirates captured by the Indian Navy.

Ransom worth several million US dollars reportedly exchanged hands to secure the release of the vessel, reports claimed.

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