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The family members of an Indian merchant navy sailor are seeking help from the federal and state governments to help secure his release from Somali pirates. They say the pirates have demanded a ransom of nearly four million dollars.
Family members of Satnam Singh have sought the help of both the federal and the state governments to secure his release from Somali pirates. Singh is an Indian merchant navy sailor who is presently being held hostage by Somali pirates.
Somali pirates hijacked his ship, a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier with a crew of 23 officers and sailors back in August.
Singh's brother says that the pirates have some hefty demands.
[Gurlakhan Singh, Satnam Singh's Brother]:
"Recently we got a call from them, saying that along with 200 million rupees they want their gang members to be released, and on this condition they would release the ship including the Indian crew and all the other crew members."
Satnam's family is worried because the pirates have reportedly issued an ultimatum of ten days for the safety of the hostages.
Singh's mother says she's frustrated due to the lack of help from Indian officials.
[Surender Kaur, Satnam Singh's Mother]:
"We commenced our enquiry about the safety of our ward over three months ago; we had been giving letters but nobody gave us any assured response. They used to trouble us every day by saying come tomorrow. After that we went Delhi for eight days but still no body listened to us."
Pirate attacks have been growing exponentially since 2007, as young Somalis in small skiffs with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades take to the water to seek their fortunes.
