The Hindu : Front Page : Anxious wait for Sebastian Antony’s kin

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Saturday, Jan 17, 2009
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Anxious wait for Sebastian Antony’s kin

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

Distressed: Family members of Sebastian Antony, who was reportedly kidnapped by Somali pirates, at their house in Kurisummoodu, near Changanassery; (inset) Sebastian Antony.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The family of Sebastian Antony (Sabu), who was reportedly kidnapped by a group of Somali pirates off the coast of Mombasa in Kenya on January 9, is praying for his early release.

Tessy Sebastian, 38, wife of Sebastian; his 77-year-old mother, Thressyamma; and daughters, Dona and Maria; live at Thirunelloor House at Kurisummoodu, near Changanassery.

“We got the news on January 11 when Elias, a colleague of Sebastian, telephoned us from Mombasa. According to Elias, a fishing ship with Sebastian and 10 others on board had been hijacked by Somali pirates on January 9,” said Ms. Tessy.

Elias said the pirates had released the ship. Eight non-Indian crew were set free while Sebastian and two other Indians were kept hostages. They included Saravanan from Tuticorin and Tresiya from Dindigul.

Tessy said Sebastian’s brother, Bobby, received a call from Philip of Tuticorin, who introduced himself as manager of the Mombasa company, on January 13 requesting him not to give publicity to the incident as the company was trying to release the hostages, adding that the pirates were demanding a hefty ransom.

“However, except Elias, no company authority or official has called us so far,” Tessy said. Sebastian has been working for the East African Seafoods company attached to the Mombasa-based Alfa Group of Companies for the past 12 years. The matter has been taken up with Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi. Kottayam Collector P. Venugopal on Friday sent the details collected from the family to Sheila Thomas, Secretary of the Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (NoRKA) wing. Mr. Ravi informed the family that the government had already directed the Indian Consulate in Kenya to take immediate steps for the release of the hostages.

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