Indian government did not contact us: Sailor's family

"We have a grudge against the Indian authorities as nobody contacted us about their (sailors') arrival. Even in Delhi, nobody provided us any details. It's sad," rued Amar Singh Chauhan, father of sailor Parshant Chauhan.

Six Indian sailors, who were among the 22-member crew of the hijacked Egyptian cargo vessel M.V. Suez, arrived in New Delhi Friday after more than 10 months in Somali pirates' captivity.

The family got a phone call about the return of the freed sailors to India from Ansar Burney, former Pakistani federal minister for human rights, Thursday evening.

"We are very thankful to Ansar Burney. He was in regular contact with us and he played an important role in raising donations for the cause," the sailor's father, a state government employee, told IANS over phone from New Delhi.

"We were happy to see our son. We are thankful to the god for his safe return," he added.
Somali pirates hijacked the Egyptian-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden Aug 2, 2010. The pirates released the ship and the crew after a $2.1 million ransom was paid to them by a Pakistani organisation.

Apart from the six Indians, the 22 hostages included 11 Egyptians, four Pakistanis and a Sri Lankan.