Indian sailors of MV Suez reach Delhi

Source: IBN LIVE

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New Delhi: After 10 months of captivity by Somali pirates, six Indian sailors of MV Suez reached the Delhi Airport on Friday. They were welcomed by their families and friends who praised and thanked Pakistani Human Rights activist Ansar Burney, who arranged for the ransom money to get the sailors released.

The children of some sailors welcomed their fathers with cards that had 'Welcome Home Papa' written on them, at the Delhi airport as emotions ran through after the sailors reunited with their families.
The pirates released the crew of the Egyptian-owned ship, comprising six Indians, four Pakistanis, 11 Egyptians and one Sri Lankan after ransom of $ 2 million was paid to them.
On Thursday, unprecedented emotional scenes played out in Karachi after the ship carrying 22 crew members of MV Suez reached the Karachi dock.
Ravinder Singh, a relieved sailor, recalled the ordeal during captivity.
"I was tied with a rope. We wouldn't get water to drink. We were given only rice and spaghetti to eat. There was no medicine for the hostages," said Singh.
"My wife Sampa, my son and my parents are waiting for me at home," he said.
Back home, Sampa Arya, the wife of Ravinder Singh recalled the months of horror she went through. She said, she had lost all hopes of seeing her husband.
"I still remember the night 10th March when I met the Prime Minister and there was no assurance and they said we can't do anything. At 3 in the night me and Madhu (wife of another captive sailor) were crying aloud," Sampa said.
Pakistani Human Rights activist Ansar Burney, who arranged for the ransom money to get the sailors back, has become God for the sailors' families, in Pakistan and in India as well.
Madhu Sharma the wife of third engineer NK Sharma, along with the other sailors' families voiced their gratitude towards Ansar Burney for getting their loved ones back safe and sound.
"Once he returns, we all will pray together and thank god... We are very grateful to Ansar Burney," said Madhu.
It was Ansar Burney's trust, which paid the ransom money to the pirates to secure release of the MV Suez crew.
"The Ansar Burney Trust had promised the nation that it would save humanity. There were 4 Pakistanis, 6 Indians, 11 Egyptians and one Sri Lankan. If we had secured the release of only the Pakistanis, it would have been unfair to the others. So we secured the release of all hostages," said Burney.
"The promises made were not political, but human," he added.
Talking on the MV Suez sailors issue, Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna said, "The six Indian sailors, who were in captivity of Somali pirates abroad MV Suez, are now headed home from Karachi. We are relieved that their ordeal has ended and they would soon be safely back with their families. We appreciate the timely help extended to them and sailors of other countries, by the Pakistani navy."
Indian sailors have also expressed their gratitude towards Ansar Burney and Pakistan.
"I want to thank the Pak administration, the people here and the Pak media for their support," said sailor Ravinder Singh after reaching Karachi.
"Pakistan has helped us in a big way. Ansar Burney, the governor and Ahmed Chinoy helped us. I have no words to express my feelings for the Pakistani people," said Satnam Singh, another sailor.
"May god give a long life to Burney," said Satnam's mother.