3 Kangra youths serving in Merchant Navy kidnapped

Ashok Raina

KANGRA, MARCH 22

Three youths from Kangra district serving in Merchant Navy, including the ship captain, have been kidnapped for ransom by Nigerian pirates and the ship hijacked.

Raghubir Singh (62), a resident of Nagrota Surian and father of one of the kidnapped crew members, who is also captain of the ship, on Thursday told The Tribune that his son Sushil Kumar, 37, father of two children, had been working in Merchant Navy for the last 13 years.

He has worked with different companies but currently he was working with Max Marine Services in Cortnou Benin since November 26 last year. He said the ship was owned by Nesto. Raghubir Singh said the family last talked to Sushil Kumar on January 31. After that, there was no communication from him till March 12.

The family was disturbed and got in touch with Nesto, the owner of the ship to enquire about his welfare. Raghubir said the family was allegedly misguided by ship owner. Every time, the family contacted him, he gave wrong information that all crew members were safe.

Raghubir Singh said it was on March 12 that the family received a satellite call from Nigeria. Speaking to the family, Sushil informed them that some Nigerian sea pirates had hijacked his ship and kidnapped three Indian crew members, including him. He revealed that the other two kidnapped crew members are Pankaj Kumar from Samloti and Ajay Kumar from Palampur, both from Kangra district.

He said after this satellite call the family contacted the ship owner Nesto again and talked to him about the latest situation. Nesto told them that he was trying to negotiate with the pirates and he was ready to give the ransom money to get the three released from their clutches. The family alleged that Nesto was misleading them.

He said the family had approached the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) but without any response.

The three families have demanded that the Government of India should come forward to ensure the safe return of the three kidnapped Merchant Navy crew members.