After being held captive by Somali pirates for almost a year, six Indian sailors of MV Suez arrived in Delhi on Friday to warm welcome from their anxious families
After being held captive by Somali pirates for almost a year, six Indian sailors of MV Suez arrived in Delhi on Friday to warm welcome from their anxious families
They returned to heroes' welcome, but recounted tales of horror and torture that they had had to endure over the past 10 months. Six Indian sailors, who were among the 22-member crew of MV Suez vessel freed by Somali pirates, reached Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at 9.30 am on Friday, by an Emirates flight from Dubai. 
Sea saw:Narottam Kumar Sharma (right) is welcomed by his family
at Delhi airport on Friday after being freed by Somali pirates.
Pic/Imtiyaz Khan
Relatives broke down in tears at the sight of the rescued sailors as their children carried placards that read 'Thank you Ansar Burney uncle, we love you', in reference to the Pakistani human rights activist who facilitated their release from the sea brigands.
Surendra Kaur from Ambala welcomes her son Satnam Singh. Most
of the sailors and their families thanked the Pakistan government for
its role in the rescue. PICs/Imtiyaz Khan
Rescue act
Ravinder Singh Bhulia, one of the released crew members, who hails from Rohtak, said: "Indian and Pakistani media helped us a lot. As far as the Indian government's role in the release is concerned, I don't want to comment on it," adding that the experience of being rescued was like a rebirth. "In the span of 10 months we had lost all faith. We had no hopes of being rescued. We didn't know what was going on in the negotiations with our government. The pirates provided us mobile phones only when they wanted to demand ransom. It was a horrible experience. Every night we slept thinking this might be our last night," Ravinder said.
Together again: (Above) Sailor Ravinder Gulia with his wife and son
at Indira Gandhi Airport in Delhi on Friday after being released by
Somali pirates.
Ravinder's wife Sampa, who fought for his return, was not able to control her tears. "Finally after 10 months of sleepless nights I can breathe a sigh of relief. My family, friends and I left no stone unturned to bring them back. I ran pillar to post, protested with my three-year-old son at Jantar Mantar, all for this moment. But the pain will never be forgotten," said Sampa. Another released crew member of MV Suez Prashant Chauhan left for his native place Shimla after arriving in Delhi.
Relieved
"I am happy to see my family again. This is the happiest moment of my life. This was my first trip as a sailor and it turned into a nightmare," said Prashant, adding that his father fought a long battle to bring him back.
However, his father Amar Singh Chauhan said that he was more thankful to Ansar Burney, than any navy or government.
"Mr Burney has done a job which is incredible. I am really thankful to him because he fought for my son and many more, who he didn't even know. The way the government treated us was very appalling," said Amar Singh Chauhan, father of Prashant, adding that no government official or representative was at the airport to receive the sailors. "Whatever Pakistan government has done is really praiseworthy. We don't know what Indian government did or did not but Pakistan government has treated us well," said another rescued seaman Narottam Kumar Sharma, holding his six-year-old daughter tightly.
Food for thought
"I have lost a lot of weight and I was worried about malnutrition or even worse starvation. The pirates gave us only water for many days. We got a meal of rice and potato just once a week," Sharma added. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna expressed relief over the release and thanked Pakistan for aiding it. "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," Krishna said in a statement.
He, however, added that the ordeal has not yet ended as over 500 sailors are still captive.
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