New Delhi: The MV Suez, a ship with six Indian sailors on board, is reportedly in trouble again after being released by Somali pirates less than 48 hours ago.

Crew members on the ship have reportedly sent a message saying they can see boats around them that appear to be dangerous. The Suez has 22 people on board, including four Pakistanis. The Indian Navy, however, denies the latest reports.

The Suez, a merchant vessel owned by an Egyptian company, was taken over by Somali pirates last year. They wanted 2.1 million dollars as ransom - which was paid in full, some of it coming via donations in Pakistan.

Ansar Burney, a Pakistani rights activist, played a key role in the negotiations that led to the pirates freeing the hostages late on Monday. However, Mr Burney says he has been messaged now by the crew warning him of the new threat.

Families of the Indian sailors on board say their appeals to the Indian Navy to help escort the ship to safer waters were ignored earlier this week. But a spokesperson for the Navy told NDTV that the Suez was "under constant watch" and that Navy officials are in touch with international forces and agencies to ensure the ship is monitored. 

The Somali pirates had threatened the hostages on at least four occasions that they would be killed if the ransom was not paid, the Suez' captain, a Pakistani, told a TV channel in his country in a phone interview on Monday.

Tags: MV Suez, Somali pirates

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