The video appeal by the sailors, who were earlier kept hostage by the pirates onboard merchant vessel MV Asphalt Venture, has surfaced on the Internet.
In the appeal, Chief Engineer Bahadur Singh said their health was deteriorating. "We are fed up. We are mentally tensed all the time. Our health is not good. Please save us," he said.
The sailors' families have also appealed to the government.
Singh said the pirates have brought the ship to Somalia and they were in captivity for the past 22 months.
"They have released the ship and now we are in their custody. Our owner had fulfilled their demands but they caught seven of us and brought us to the land.
"Our condition is very bad. I don't know what action is the government taking...We are requesting President (Pranab Mukherjee), Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) and UPA Chief Sonia Gandhi and Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj to please save us.
"We want our lives, please help us, please save us," he said.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
