Kasargod: Abbas Ali, Crew Man of Hijacked Vessel Returns Home
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SB) 

Kasargod, Feb 21: Abbas Ali, one among the 26 members held captive on board MV Al Khaliq, the ship hijacked by Somalian pirates on October 22, 2009 near the Seychelles islands finally returned home at Kodyame Madva, Kumble here on Saturday February 20. The ship was released on February 9 after payment of a ransom.

On being released by the pirates, Abbas Ali first reached Kenya from where he caught a flight to Kozhikode and then to his residence at Cheruvanjeri, Koothuparamba. Abbas visibly relieved after an ordeal of over three months in captivity said that his release from the captivity is definitely an experience of rebirth for him.

Speaking about his experience in captivity, Abbas said that the pirates initially numbering 13 at the time of hijack increased to about 40, who used to guard us in shifts. We were treated well without any mental or physical torture, but served food only once in the afternoon with compulsory switching off of lights at 10.00 pm. We also had to forego bathing in order to save portable water. While the three officers of the ship were held in captivity in a room at the basement and two others on top floor, I was with other 20 members in another room, he said. Pirates had made sure that we had no connection with the outer world, he added.

K Naushad from Koothuparamba too was along with Ali on board the ill-fated ship. Twenty-four Indians and two Burmese crew members were sailing aboard ship on its way from Novorossiysk in southern Russia to Kenya's Mombasa port when it was captured. The ship was captained by Indian, Riteshkumar Ashok Sudan and managed by S N P Shipping Services.

Abbas said that this was the first such horrid experience in his 17 years of career on sea. After the release of crew members, the company managing the ship has distributed 4 months salary, bonus and also money for the tickets to return home, thus offering timely help, he added.