Pirates release 11 Indians

Eleven Indians were released by Somali pirates on Wednesday 11 months after they were captured aboard their ship ‘M V Rack Africana’.

Babu, father of Roji V John, second officer trainee in the ship and a native of nearby Pathanamthitta district said authorities of Rack International company, which owns the ship handed over the ransom amount on Tuesday.
Babu, who who travelled to Dubai about a month back and returned on March 7, said:

“Today we received the phone call from John and e-mail from the authorities about his release. They will reach Kenya and from there to Mumbai within a couple of days,” he said.
John was part of the 26- member crew of ‘M V Rack Africana’ which was hijacked on April 10 last while on its way to Morali in Africa.

He had joined the ship as part of his BSc Nautical Science Course two years ago.The pirates, numbering about 25, were demanding a ransom of $7 million. The pirates accompany the ship, carrying the crew members, upto the border where the Indian Navy ship anchored.