Father’s persistence saves son from pirates

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Four days before he celebrated his 21st birthday, Roji G. John, a crew member of a UAE cargo ship M.V. Rak Afrikana, fell into the hands of Somali pirates who hijacked the ship at the Gulf of Eden last April.
The ship M.V. Rak Afrikana, which was on its way to African countries from Dubai, had a 23-member crew — 11 Indians and the rest from Pakistan and Tanzania. When Roji’s father, Mr Babu Vilavinad, 48, a native of Pattanathitta, heard that his eldest son was in the captivity of pirates, he was initially shocked beyond belief.
“We were devastated when the captain of another vessel of the Rak Zimbath company (to which the hijacked ship belongs) rung up and told us the news,” Mr Babu told this newspaper.
During the next 11 months, the gun-wielding pirates took Roji and the rest of the crew to a secret locale in Somalia and held them captive.
“For the first nine months, we had no information about him,” recalled Roji. “Then on December 14, I received a call and at the other end I recognised the voice of my son. I was so confused that I didn’t know what to ask him.”
Roji had actually called on the instruction of the pirates. “The call lasted only one minute and all he said was to pressure the shipping company to pay the ransom,” the visibly-emotional father said.
The call provoked Mr Babu to action. He did everything possible to ensure his son’s release. “I got in touch with the parents of Vishnu, a Thiruvananthapuram resident, who was also held captive by the pirates,” he said. “Together we went to Delhi and met the concerned authorities.”
The desperate father also met the Leader of the Opposition, Ms Sushma Swaraj, during her Kerala visit and sought her help. “The Consulate General then got in touch with the ship owner Ajay Kotuwun and we had a ray of hope,” he added.
Two more months passed and finally the company struck a deal with the pirates. On the night of February 9 this year, Mr Babu got a call from his son saying that the ship was released.
The Indian Navy and the Consulate in Dubai have requested the Spanish Navy to use its vessel to bring the crew to Dubai. The crew will most probably reach Dubai port by Saturday noon and after medical check-up, will reach their native lands by Monday and Tuesday.
“For almost a year, his mother was very gloomy,” said Mr Babu. “However this time, she can happily celebrate his 22nd birthday falling on April 14.”