Reports that crew have been released: Relatives of Malayalees trapped in ship hijacked by Iran still waiting for their arrival

KOZHIKODE: Relatives of Malayalis trapped in the ship hijacked by Iran are yet to confirm their release information. TP Shyamnath from Velliparamba, Kozhikode, PV Dhanesh from Kattikulam, Wayanad, and Sumesh, son of Sivaraman, from Palakkad, Keralaseri Vadaseri, are on the ship. It was reported that 17 Indians including them have been released in the last two days, but the relatives have denied this.

Viswanathan, the father of Kozhikode native TP Shyamnath, said that while the Indian media, especially the media in Kerala, was giving news of the release, his son called from the ship and said that he did not know about the release. "From Friday morning there was news that all the three Malayalis on the ship, including the son, have been released. My son called at 8:30 pm. Shyamnath informed that the only information he knows is that the Iranian authorities have given the release instructions to the ship owners and they do not know when they will be released and they are safe. We have been in touch with the Iranian Embassy since the news came. Sukumaran Nair, a Malayali officer there, said that he did not know about the release. At the same time, he said that the release will be soon and he will return home without any problem," says Viswanathan. The ship containing four Malayalis including TP Shyamnath was seized by Iran on the afternoon of the 13th, in the context of the Iran-Israel conflict.

Ann Tessa Joseph, a native of Thrissur, is the only one who has returned. Dhanesh and Sumesh's family also have the same information only. The Malayalis trapped on the ship are employees of a Mediterranean Shipping Company.