‘Working to get hostages freed’
Wednesday, 19/06/2013
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=72798&boxid=57452&uid=&dat=2013-06-19
Ludhiana : Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Tuesday said that the government was in constant touch with Interpol for securing the release of five Indian hostages held captive by the Somali pirates for the last three years.
The hostages include Surjit Singh from Badhowal village in Ludhiana. The seafarers were on board MV Asphalt Venture when they were taken hostage by the Somali pirates in 2010.
The Union Minister, who has taken up the cause since 2010, said he had recently written to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, urging him to seek their release.
Tewari had also raised the issue in Parliament, besides taking it up with former External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. Quoting Khurshid, Tewari said the Government of India had set up an inter-ministerial group under the Ministry of Shipping for the early release of hostages.
The group comprises all the relevant ministries like Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, besides specialised agencies to coordinate the efforts.
The last monthly meeting of the group was held in the last week of May to review the progress.
