“My husband is safe. He called me from the ship last night. He spoke with me on phone for about a minute or so and confirmed his well-being. We are keeping our fingers crossed, praying that he returns safely,” said Deepika, wife of Raghubir Singh Pathania, the Chief Engineer of the Pacific International Lines’ M V Kota Wazir, which was hijacked by Somali pirates on October 15.

Deepika said the pirates were not harassing the crew, but had made it clear that they would be released only after the company pays the ransom amount. “He did not divulge any more details. He said he was permitted to call home,” she told The Indian Express.

Raghubir (36), who hails from Dharamsala, did his engineering and a course in shipping from an institute in New Delhi. “He has been working with Pacific International Lines since 1998,” his wife said.

“The general manager of the company assured us they’d get the hostages freed. He said the matter is being taken up with the government,” said Deepika. The couple have a three-year-old son.

The ship was on its way from Singapore to Kenya when it was hijacked somewhere north of Seychelles. There are four Indian sailors among the 21 crew members on board. However, Raghubir’s father Pritam Singh Pathania said there were only two Indians on board the ship.

Kanpur family worried too

CHANDIGARH: Pulkit Kapoor’s parents in Kanpur are worried for their son’s safety. The 22-year-old is a deck cadet on board the hijacked M V Kota Wazir. Pulkit completed his studies from Greater Noida before going to Singapore with Pacific International Lines. “We hope Pulkit is safe. We are in touch with the shipping company, who have assured us all cooperation. They told us this morning that Pulkit will call us in the afternoon, but we are yet to receive any call,” said father Naresh Kapoor. ens