KOCHI: The two Keralites who were among the 21 Indian sailors held captive by the Somali pirates on board a chemical oil tanker on August 20 from near an Omani port are safe and they contacted their homes.Rohit, from Thalikkulam in Thrissur, and Muhammad Nanki from Mogral, Kasargod, on Monday contacted their parents and said they were safe.Rohit, who talked for a minute, said they were safe and were provided food and water, his mother Jalaja told Express. He called at 9:30 am. He said they would be released only if the government gave the ransom money as asked by the pirates. He also asked her to inform about the incident to his brother Sachin who is now working in Kuwait, she added. Rohit said he was unaware where they were now, she said. Rohit, 26, joined the crew of the vessel on March 27 after his leave.Unconfirmed reports said that Nanki also contacted his parents and hinted that they would be released only if the government paid the ransom money at the earliest.When contacted, the Kasargod and Thrissur collectors said they had no official confirmation. Kasargod Collector K N Satheesh said the Tahsildar had been asked to contact the parents of Rohit at the earliest.Thrissur Collector V Sanal Kumar said they were trying to get in touch with Nanki’s parents. The pirates hijacked MV Fairchem Bogey from its anchorage at the port in the mouth of the Gulf of Aden.
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