Family still in the dark over sailor's fate

MARGAO: News about the welfare of the Goan sailor from Navelim, Anthony Thimodo, who was on board a hijacked ship, continues to evade his family.
Except for a couple of officials from the company who visited Thimodo's house on Monday, there has been no response from either the state or the central government, sources close to his family informed.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik spoke to the secretary of the Union ministry of shipping, road transport and highways, New Delhi, A P V N Sarma on Monday and requested him to ascertain the status of the hijacked ship MV Iran Deyanat, and obtain information about Thimodo.
It may be recalled that the ship was hijacked in the Red Sea on August 21. Since then nothing is known about the personnel on board the ship.
It is learnt that Naik, upon reading press reports, contacted Thimodo's family on Monday and obtained details about him.
Naik has also faxed letters in this regard to the union minister of shipping, road transport and highways, T R Balu in New Delhi and to Kiran Dhingra, director general of shipping, Mumbai. He has requested them to ascertain the status of the ship and the Goan sailor. The Rajya Sabha MP has been keeping in constant touch with the concerned union authorities.