Two Kerala natives are among ten crew members reportedly taken hostage by sea pirates off the African coast, according to family members of one of the abducted sailors. The other hostages include five individuals from different Indian states and three foreign nationals.
One of the Malayali crew members has been identified as 35-year-old Rajeendran Bhargavan from Gopalpetta in Kasaragod district, while the identity of the second individual remains unknown.
Rajeendran’s family lost contact with him around 11:30 p.m. on March 17. The following day, representatives of the company operating the vessel informed his wife, Vani, about the abduction. In response, she has written to India’s Shipping Minister, urging immediate government intervention to secure his release.
“The safety and lives of our loved ones are at great risk, and we seek the highest level of governmental action to bring them back home safely. I, along with my family, look forward to your urgent response and assistance in this matter,” Vani stated in her letter.
The cargo vessel, en route from the port of Lome in Africa to Cameroon, was hijacked by pirates who captured ten crew members before abandoning the ship. According to sources, the vessel is owned by the Panama-registered company Bitu River and operated by Mumbai-based Maritech Tanker for cargo transportation.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Shafi Parambil has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging immediate diplomatic intervention to ensure the safe release of the hostages. Expressing deep concern over the incident, he emphasized the need for swift government action in collaboration with international authorities to resolve the crisis.
The abduction underscores the ongoing threat of piracy in international waters, raising concerns about the safety of Indian seafarers working on foreign vessels. As of now, the Indian government has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
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