Somali pirates released a hijacked ship after taking a multimillion dollar ransom, but kept back seven members from the 15-member all-Indian crew, news reports said Sunday.
Authorities were tight-lipped about steps being taken to rescue the still-detained crew members, who were apparently not released in retaliation for the arrests of more than 100 Somali pirates by the Indian navy in various actions over the last few months, dpa reported.
The pirates released eight crew members of the Asphalt Venture on Saturday intending to swap the remaining seven for pirates jailed in India, The Hindu newspaper reported quoting official sources.
A crisis management group from various ministries held an urgent meeting to take stock of the situation, the report said.
Government authorities did not confirm whether a swap deal was in the offing, but it had sought details of the Somali pirates being held in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, the NDTV network reported.
The released crew members were set down off Haradhere in central Somalia, a known base of maritime piracy, Mumbai-based owners of the ship, OMCI Ship Management said. Their ship was hijacked in September.
"We did everything possible to secure the release of all crew members. This situation is completely unprecedented," Sunil Puri, a spokesman for the OMCI Ship Management told NDTV.
"The original deal was that they would hand over the vessel and all the seamen, which they have not," he said adding, "We are making fresh attempts through international and Indian authorities to contact the hostage takers."
Some local news outlets in Somalia reported that pirates received a ransom payment of 3.5 million dollars.
Puri said media reports from Somalia suggested that pirates had taken the decision not to honour the agreement in retaliation for the arrest of Somali pirates by Indian navy.
The Indian Navy has captured 120 Somali pirates during its anti- piracy operations in the waters off the Horn of Africa over the past few months.
The biggest seizure was of 61 Somalia pirates last month after they attacked a naval ship.
Pirates currently hold some 33 ships with more than 600 hostages aboard. Of these, 53 Indian sailors are being held captive on five different ships.
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