New Delhi, June 15: Six Indians among a crew of 22 on a merchant vessel that was released by pirates who attacked it again this morning were stated to be safe after the assault was thwarted.

But family members of the crew have complained that an SOS to the Indian Navy was not heeded. An Indian warship is patrolling the transit corridor through the Gulf of Aden.

The MV Suez, an Egyptian vessel, was freed by Somali pirates on June 13 after Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney arranged for a part of the ransom. It was this evening being escorted by Pakistan Naval Ship Babar to the port of Salalah in Oman.

The vessel had been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 2, 2010.

Asked why the Indian Navy had not responded to the SOS, a source in the government said the release of the merchant vessel and its escort was being arranged by the Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, one of the coalitions patrolling the Gulf of Aden.

India is not a member of CTF 151 — which is US-led and has navies from five countries including Pakistan — because of its policy of operating offshore only under a United Nations flag. The official said the Pakistani frigate was also closest to the MV Suez and was tasked for the escort duty.

Asked about the new piracy attempt this morning after the ship was released on June 13, the official said the Egyptian owners did not arrange for a tug and an escort — the standard practice after a ship is released. The Indian Navy had suggested to the owners that a tug and a “Vessel Protection Detachment” should be embarked on the MV Suez immediately after it was released.

The ship’s crew is said to have fought back the four pirates who attempted to board it again this morning.

This evening, the MV Suez was about 200 nautical miles south-west of Socotra Island in the Gulf of Aden.

The six Indian crew members are likely to reach home later this month.

Pakistani activist Burney had reportedly raised the ransom through donations. But the Indian government has not acknowledged his role officially. Four Pakistanis were also among the crew of 22.

‘Long live Burney’

In Rohtak, the wife of one of the Indian sailors said her husband had called her.

“I have just received a call from my husband, Ravindra Singh, that after the ship was attacked by pirates today, they had received word that a Pakistani ship, MV Babar, had been dispatched to escort the MV Suez and the sailors to safety,” Sampa Arya told The Telegraph from Rohtak.

Sampa criticised the response of the Indian government. “What is the point of being an Indian when our very own government simply turns a blind eye to our sufferings? Why is it that even after the ship was attacked again, the government was looking for others to try and save the sailors?” she asked.

She was, however, all praise for Burney. “I will always pray for Burney saab’s long life. He is reuniting India and Pakistan,” she said.

“Those from India who had come forward to help with the ransom money mysteriously backed away citing ‘pressure’ from the government in the form of raids on their business establishments. Is this the way we treat our own people?” Sampa said.

Rajya Sabha member K.D. Singh had offered to help rescue the sailors and had even met Burney in Dubai.

“Only K.D. Singh knows why he withdrew,” Burney said from Karachi. “I don’t know the reasons. He even stopped picking up calls. There is no politics involved in saving the sailors who belonged to different nationalities. It was simply a humanitarian effort.”