Ministry assures help to kin of kidnapped youths

Rajiv Mahajan

NURPUR, MARCH 23

The families of three youths from Kangra district serving in the Merchant Navy, kidnapped for ransom by Nigerian pirates, heaved a sigh of relief on Friday.

The Tribune highlighted the plight of Raghbir Singh, a resident of Nagrota Surian in Jawali subdivision and father of one of the abducted youths Sushil Kumar (37), in these columns on Friday.

As per reports, Nurpur MLA Rakesh Pathania took up the issue with Union Health Minister JP Nadda after taking note of the plight of the families of the kidnapped youths that appeared in The Tribune. Nadda took up the matter with Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Pathania told The Tribune that he provided contact numbers and family details of all three abducted Kangra youths to the Union External Affairs Ministry through Nadda.

The Ministry of External Affairs after taking up the matter with the Indian embassy in Nigeria rang up the families of the missing youths and assured them of best possible assistance, ensuring their safe return. Sushil Kumar had been working in the Merchant Navy for the past 13 years. Currently, he was working with Max Marine Services in Cortnou Benin.

The other kidnapped crew member Pankaj hails from Samloti while Ajay is from Palampur in Kangra district.

Meanwhile, Raghubir Singh (62), father of Sushil Kumar, told The Tribune on Friday that he was feeling somewhat relieved and was expecting safe return of his son after receiving a call from the Union External Affairs Ministry.

He revealed that on Thursday evening the kidnappers allowed his son to talk to him on mobile. “My son told me that kidnappers are giving them a single meal a day. They have threatened to stop feeding them after three days. He also said the kidnappers were demanding ransom for their release,” he said.

Shanta seeks Swaraj’s intervention

Palampur: Senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar on Friday called on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and urged her for the release of the three Kangra youths serving in Merchant Navy, who were taken hostage by Nigerian pirates.

Shanta said the External Affairs Ministry should take up the matter with the Nigerian government so that efforts were made for the early release of the hostages.

He told the minister that the pirates had been demanding a ransom of 11 million Naira. He said the victims’ families had also approached the owner of the ship, but they had not initiated any action for their release.

The families were spending sleeplessnights, therefore, the government should send some officer to Nigeria, the BJP leader said.

CM takes up the issue

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has sought the intervention of the Union government to ensure the safe release of three youths of the state who have been kidnapped for ransom by Nigerian pirates.
• In a communiqué to the Western Africa Division, the Ministry of External Affairs, the state government has said that the three youths — Sushil Kumar, Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Kumar — who belong to Kangra district, have been kidnapped by the Nigerian pirates as per the confirmed report of the Kangra Deputy Commissioner.
• He expressed hope that the Union Government would act fast and get the hostages released safely.