THOOTHUKUDI: Members of the family of Daniston, a sailor from Thoothukudi who is held captive by Somalian pirates for more than 14 months, are in a state of depression expecting his release.Daniston (26), son of Anthony Litton of Thoothukudi district, a sailor, was on board the MV ‘Asphalt Venture’ a cargo vessel owned by Omai Shipping Company in Mumbai. On September 28, 2010, when the vessel was on its journey to the Gulf from France, was hijacked by Somalian pirates.At that time, there were 15 members on board the ship. They were held hostages and following an agreement by the shipping company, the pirates released the ship and eight sailors. Seven sailors, including Daniston, all of them from India, were detained. Pushed to the wall, parents of Daniston made representations to the Union Minister for Shipping G K Vasan, the Collector and other authorities and are waiting for action.I Thennavan, a relative of Daniston and a member of the Indian Sailors Association, said that the shipping company was remitting the salary of Daniston to his family but had stopped sending money from November. Therefore, the government should intervene to release Daniston.To press this demand, members of the Indian Sailors Association and his family have decided to observe a fast in Thoothukudi on Jan 6, he added.
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