The
Asian Age: New Delhi: Monday, 08 December 2014.
The fate of
seven Indians kidnapped four years ago by pirates operating off Somalia and
Nigerian coasts remains unknown and the past six years have seen the abduction
of over 400 nationals, the government has said.
A total of
416 Indian crew were kidnapped in 42 incidents reported between 2008 and April
this year. Of the total cases, a maximum of 10 such incidents were reported in
2010 (in which 100 crew were kidnapped), followed by nine in 2011 (87 detenus)
and five each in 2008, 2009 and 2012 in which 63, 47 and 43 Indians were held
by the pirates, it said in reply to an RTI query.
Whereas, four
each such cases were reported in 2013 and January and April 2014, in which 46
and 30 Indians respectively were held captive by the pirates, the Directorate
General of Shipping (DGS) said.
Almost all of
those kidnapped, except seven, were released by the kidnappers in these
incidents after being held captive. A total of 15 Indians onboard Asphalt
Venture vessel were kidnapped on September 29, 2010. Eight of them were
released after 198 days of captivity. “Seven crew still held captive,” it said.
The directorate,
which comes under the shipping ministry, declined to give names and addresses
of the persons detained citing exemption clause of the transparency law.
“It may
please be noted that the name and address of person(s) held captive or abducted
as sought by you is personal information which would cause invasion of privacy
and therefore exemption under Section 8(j) (of the RTI Act) is invoked for this
purpose,” the DGS said in reply to the RTI query filed by PTI.
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