Kumar Prashant with wife Prerna. Telegraph picture

Patna, April 11: Thirty-two-year-old second officer of Irano Hind Shipping Company Kumar Prashant is in the clutches of Somali pirates for around two months. His family members are still clueless on when he would be at home.

Irano Hind Shipping Company’s cargo vessel MV Shinin was hijacked in the north Arabian Sea. Neither Prashant, nor any other crew member of the vessel has been released.

For Nishant, Prashant’s younger brother, the terror does not seem to end. He received a call from Prashant late night on April 9 and learnt that the condition on board the cargo vessel had worsened.

Nishant is set to meet chief minister Nitish Kumar tomorrow to request him to demand the Union government to ensure the crew’s release.

“I wanted to go to the chief minister’s janata darbar today but the officials at the chief minister’s house told me that the case required more time. So I am expecting to meet Nitish tomorrow. At least 10 Indians, including my brother, are stuck for almost two months now. The terror is just not ending,” Nishant told The Telegraph.

Prashant’s call on Saturday brought back the horror at a time when the ministry of external affairs ensured the families that steps were being taken for the crew’s release.

The mariner had called his family members on April 9 on the instruction of the Somali pirates. “The pirates, who have hijacked the vessel, made him call us around 1.30am on Saturday,” Nishant said.

“Prashant told me the condition has become worse with only two days of food supplies left. Quoting the pirates he (Prashant) said no negotiations were taking place. He pleaded me to do something,” Nishant said.

MV Shinin that started from Fujairah, an emirate in the United Arab Emirates, for Singapore was carrying more than 50,000 tonnes of iron ore when it was hijacked on February 12. Prashant had confirmed the development when he called on February 19.

“After we spoke with him on February 19, he called up again after a month to say that condition was becoming tougher. Last month, Nitish had written a letter to the external affairs ministry, requesting it to take steps for the crew’s release. My brother-in-law, who is based in New Delhi, had a talk with the ministry officials who said things were being worked out. We thought the same too. But Saturday’s call shattered our hopes again. The ministry is doing nothing,” Nishant said.

The Shipping Corporation of India has 49 per cent stake in the Iran-based shipping firm, Irano Hind Shipping Company. “If it was a private shipping company, we would have understood. But the Shipping Corporation of India has a major share and I don’t understand why things are being delayed so much. My sister-in-law (Prerna) and niece (Avani) are in New Delhi and are losing hope with each passing day,” Nishant said.

Attempts to contact the officials at the external affairs ministry proved futile.

“I hope the chief minister takes note of the situation we are in. It is nothing but days of horror and fear. The Union government should take action. After all, they are citizens of this country,” he said.

Calcutta resident Partha Pratim Brahma, Mumbai-based Vinod Kumar Khanna and Goa resident Thomas Perrera are among the other Indian nationals on board the hijacked vessel. Thirteen Iranian nationals are also on board.