We had a torrid 4-year time: Kidnapped sailor's family

It was a dream that the family of 50-year-old George Joseph had been dreaming since the first engineer on board the vessel MV Asphalt Venture was kidnapped along with seven others in September 2010 near Kenya by Somalian pirates.

The dream came true late October when the kidnapped sailors were released by their captors after four long years.

"Of course, we daily dreamt about his release. Thanks to all those who helped us in getting back our father. Only we know what a torrid time we underwent ever since my father was kidnapped," second year B.Tech. student Joseph George, son of Joseph, told IANS.

The home of Joseph has been abuzz with activity since Friday afternoon as the entire village near Koothatukulam came to welcome him back after an ordeal which not many would have undergone.

Joseph and his colleague B.N. Unnikrishnan who Friday morning reached the international airport here from Mumbai were received by State Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anup Jacob and others.

George, his mother and his 11-year-old sister went to receive Joseph at Mumbai on Sunday.

"He is now sitting amidst a group of our friends and relatives and narrating the hardships that he faced for four years after being kidnapped by the pirates," said George.

He said that his father told them that for the first two years their life in the forest was not that tough.

"They were asked to prepare food for others. But after two years things changed for the worse and they at times felt they will never be able to see their homeland again," added George.

George said the director general of shipping has said that his father will be given a job and it would only be a shore job.

"No more sailing for my father; he has suffered so much and hence it will be only a shore job. At the moment what my father requires is rest. When he is ready, then we will take up the issue of his job," said George.

George thanked Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who took up this case with two successive central governments, and also the shipping company which had been pursuing the matter for long.

The Panama flagged vessel owned by a joint venture of a British and Middle-East company was hijacked near Tanzania when on its way to Durban from Mombasa, Kenya, Sep 28, 2010.